Khan on Sunday said his party stood with the Pakistan army and wants it “to be strong”.
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan rebutted reports on back channel dialogues with the coalition government, saying no talks will be held until authorities announced a date for fresh elections.
Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf secretary general Asad Umar on Saturday said his party chief was in Lahore to attend a “very important meeting”. He was referring to Khan’s early departure from the party’s protest march before the sunset. Consequently the marchers failed to reach their planned destination in Kamoke where Khan was scheduled to address them.
Khan took to Twitter to quash rumours that a high-level meeting was being held in Lahore between his party and the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“For all those spreading rumours about my meeting in Lahore, the reason we returned was because Lahore was closer and we had already decided not to move at night. The only demand I have had for six months is a date for early fair and free elections. That will be the only demand if talks are to be held,” Khan said.
However, Khan’s key ally and chief minister of most populous Punjab province, Pervez Elahi said “backdoor negotiations” are underway even as the PTI’s long march continues.
“God willing Imran Khan will be successful,” Elahi tweeted.
Meanwhile, Khan on Sunday said his party stood with the Pakistan army and wants it “to be strong”.
Addressing the participants on the third day at Muridke, the ousted prime minister said his criticism on “the army is always constructive”.
A day earlier Khan targeted the powerful establishment, saying the people of Pakistan should not be treated like “goats and sheep”. “You first tell us that Nawaz Sharif was a robber and now he is clean. Previously Zardari was ‘Mister 10 per cent’ in the world, but now since ‘we have decided, you also accept him’.”
Having once been regarded as close to the generals, Khan now accuses the military of supporting his opponents’ move to remove him from office. The military says it is staying out of politics, and the intelligence chief accused Khan of asking for “illegal and unconstitutional” support for his government.
Khan’s recent criticism of the military was widely picked up in Indian media.
The former prime minister refrained from his criticism of the military establishment on the third day of the protest rally. “I want to tell India that this army is ours and I can never be against it.”
The convoy will make a slow journey to the capital Islamabad, almost 270 kilometres from Lahore stopping in multiple cities over seven days.
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