Pak govt rules out snap polls

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan on Saturday again targeted the powerful establishment, saying the people of Pakistan should not be treated like “goats and sheep”, even as the coalition government ruled out any negotiations with the former PM on holding snap elections.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief addressed the participants of his long march on the

Day 2 of his protest rally at Shahdara area of Lahore before leading them to Islamabad in a convoy of vehicles.

Continuing his anti-establishment rhetoric, Khan, 70, made it apparent that he was talking about the leadership of the army and the premier intelligence agency.

“Don’t treat us like animals, that you first call them robbers and then impose them on us, and tell us bhair bakrian (goats and sheep) that now move in this direction,” he said, alluding towards what apparently the establishment used to tell him about rulers before him.

“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’.”

Meanwhile, defence minister Khawaja Asif said that elections will be held at the constitutional time and there is “no possibility of negotiations” with Khan.