ZULFIQAR AHMAD, FAZAL SHER & WAQAR LILLAH

ISLAMABAD: Completely rejecting the US stance, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan Thursday warned Wash-ington that it must stop its interference in Pakistan’s internal matters.

Reiterating his aggressive stance against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at a highly-charged crowd at ‘Azadi Square’, he told US ambassador to Pakistan Richard G Olson: “Mr Olson, my question to you is that would you consider elections as legitimate if in every constituency of US Senate there are 60,000 to 70,000 votes that cannot be verified?”

In his hard-hitting speech on the 8th day of his anti-government sit-in, Imran Khan, in a harsh tone, said the US government must stop interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan and withdraw its statements regarding the ongoing political crisis.

Imran said: “Don’ back stooges like Nawaz Sharif. Please remember a prime minister [would be] like Imran Khan can never become a [US] stooge like Nawaz Sharif”.

He said that if Pakistanis want to become a nation, they must not accept any dictation from the US. Imran ridiculed the incumbent government, saying the current system could be the democracy of Ittifaq Foundries – a steel mill runs by Sharifs – but we don’t accept it as it has been imposed on people through poll rigging and fake elections.

“I would like to tell the US once again that it must not interfere in our democracy. We’re peaceful people and holding a peaceful protest for the last over seven days and that not a single flower pot was broken,” he maintained. He said: “The one who is a friend of the US is a traitor…No, rather it should be the one who is a friend of the US is a slave…if billion dollars are stashed in their [US] banks, you automatically become their slaves”.

Nawaz is happy after the US statement and thinking his ‘illegitimate rule’ is quite secure now. “Oh Pakistanis listen, things will be decided by Saturday and the umpire will raise his finger…,” he added.

The PTI leader also hit out at the lawmakers who passed a unanimous resolution in National Assembly on Thursday, supporting the prime minister.

But Khan vowed to ‘clean bowled’ all the politicians who opposed his anti-government protest in one go, adding majority of the MPs in the parliament are ‘criminals’ and they must be ready that PTI will undertake a ruthless accountability.

“They [MPs] think as the inflation, the lawlessness, the crimes, the increasing poverty, the terrorism all is happening due to Imran Khan but remember the day is not far when I will clean bowled all of you with my first ball,” he warned. Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who moved a resolution in National Assembly against the ongoing PTI-PAT sit-ins came under severe attack. Imran accused him of selling out his conscience to save the governorship of his brother in Balochistan.

Imran also criticized Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, saying people like him could not become an opposition leader as he is facing several corruption cases. He reiterated that he would not leave the protest venue till the ouster of the prime minister, adding he is a sportsman and has the stamina to compete with Nawaz Sharif’s children even at the age of 60.

“I’m telling you once again that the ball is in your [Nawaz’s] court and it’s up to you now whether you want to go in an honourable or a disgraceful manner,” he added. He called upon all the Pakistanis to rush to Islamabad to participate in the ongoing sit-in which he said will be a defining moment for “freeing” Pakistan from the “clutches” of the plunderers.

“Oh Mianwali walo, you introduced me to politics. Reach here on your bicycles, motorcycles or even on foot as we’re going to make history and you will be able to tell your children that you were part of the historic anti-corrupt government convoy,” he added.

Imran also called upon the people especially those in Lahore, Karachi and Balochistan, to install big screens in cities and witness the ‘Azadi March’ celebrations live and also witness the removal of a corrupt regime.

The PTI chairman especially appreciated Aftab Cheema, inspector general Islamabad police, who was shown the door after he reportedly refused to crack down on PTI protesters on the verbal orders of government.

In the same breath, he praised acting IG Islamabad Khalid Khattak, who also reportedly refused to bow down to the government pressure, to act against the sit-in protesters in a ‘Gullu Butt’ style. He said secretary interior Shahid Khan is reportedly planning a crackdown on PTI workers. Imran warned him of dire consequences.

Referring to a protest rally against PTI reportedly headed by former PML-N MNA Hanif Abbasi, he said PML-N can find a wise person except Gullu Butts and ‘Ephedrine Abbasi.”