Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Monday dismissed reports of any deal struck with the government over his party’s call for a million man march to Islamabad on August 14.
“The time for talking is over. We have waited 14 months and have exhausted all rules within the law,” said Mr. Khan, who is protesting over alleged rigging in 2013 general election won by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N.
“We raised the issue in Parliament as well, while the Election Commission of Pakistan gave us no relief. We requested for a judicial commission to be formed but that demand was also not met. Now the decision will be taken on August 14,” he told reporters.
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The Pakistan government last week decided to hand over Islamabad’s security to the Army from August 1 for three months, under Article 245 of Pakistan’s Constitution.
Mr. Khan said: “They should not hide behind the Army as it is Pakistan’s Army and not serving them alone.”
Article 245, which deals with the functions of the armed forces states that “armed forces shall, under the directions of the federal government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.”
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