Informed COAS that only PM Nawaz’s resignation is acceptable: Imran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said he had informed Army chief Raheel Sharif that did not trust Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and would not leave until he resigns during their meeting held on Thursday.

The PTI chief said his party had not asked the army to act as a mediator and was offering this clarification so the truth could be revealed.

Khan provided details of his meeting with the Army chief stating that General Sharif had provided guarantee that the rigging investigation would be transparent. Imran Khan said he told the Army chief that the judicial commission could not be successful if Nawaz Sharif remained prime minister and nothing besides his resignation was acceptable.

Khan added that he outlined his reasons for not trusting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. “I also told the Army chief that it is a democratic principle that an official who is accused of wrongdoing resigns until the probe is complete. If proven innocent he returns to office.”

The PTI chief said Nawaz Sharif had been given the option of stepping down until the election rigging probe was completed. “Nawaz Sharif if you are thinking of Pakistan we have given you a way. If you have not done rigging there is nothing to be concerned about.”

Imran Khan reiterated that he would not back down from the prime minister’s resignation demand, adding that Nawaz Sharif was steering the country towards disaster to save his money.

Khan said 90% of parliamentarians were killers and robbers and wanted to save rigging not democracy. “If fair elections are held they will not be able to contest.”

The PTI chief stressed he would remain in Islamabad regardless if people showed up or not. “I want freedom or death,” Khan said.