Pakistan: Ousted PM Imran Khan demands military intervention to ensure early polls

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday demanded Pakistan's military intervention to ensure early polls are held in country shortly after he accused Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa of playing part in ouster from Parliament. Infuriated over his unceremonious exit as PM, Khan warned that his supporters will topple "imported government" on reaching capital. Khan was speaking at a pro-Pakistan-Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) rally in Lahore after about 12 days of his government's dismissal.

"Those who have committed this mistake of ousting my government should rectify it by holding fresh elections without any delay," Khan said in a veiled reference to Pakistan's military establishment, PTI (news agency) quoted.

Khan also lashed out at ruling coalition government heed by incumbent Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and PTI-loyal who deflected right before vote on a no-confidence motion in early April. Khan went on to say: "those who voted for se traitors in next election will also be traitors." He furr called out to people of Pakistan to reach Islamab in order to oppose ruling coalition government. "Wait for my call when I will invite you to Islamab. I am not giving a call just to PTI but all Pakistanis. I want to make it clear that I don't want confrontation," he said in an hour-long speech.

Imran Khan accuses General Bajwa of involvement in his ouster

Earlier on Thursday, Khan targetted a veiled allegation against General Bajwa. "Some elements in powerful establishment who indulged in b practices were responsible. "re are also humans in institutions. If one or two individuals do something wrong, entire institution is not responsible. If one person (in an apparent reference to Army chief Gen. Bajwa) makes a mistake, this does not mean that whole institution is at fault," PTI quoted Khan as saying. According to experts, Khan h apparently lost support of Pakistan Army after he refused to appoint chief of ISI spy agency last year.

Imran Khan praises India's foreign policy

During his Thursday dress, Khan also praised India's foreign policy, which is "unlike Pakistan's." He said, "Hindustan's foreign policy is for its people. How come our foreign policy can be for ors, he asked. Khan h earlier praised India on several occasions for its independent foreign policy." Citing India's plans to purchase oil at a discounted rate from Russia, Khan rued that he too was planning to import from Moscow at a 30% rebate before his government was stripped down by an alleged conspiracy led by US. He also demanded a Supreme Court investigation into "threat letter" that he received during unstable political turntables earlier this month.

(Image: AP)