Imran Khan says he is against military rule in Pakistan

Imran Khan tried to play down the suspicion that he was paving way for a military takeover through his anti-government protests and said martial law is not a solution to the country`s problems.

Islamabad: Former Pakistani cricketing hero Imran Khan on Monday tried to play down the suspicion that he was paving way for a military takeover through his anti-government protests and said martial law is not a solution to the country`s problems.

The chief of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) said he would never support military rule in the country. "Martial law is not the solution to the country`s problems. We do not want any kind of violence," Imran said at a press conference. He accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of using the threat of military intervention to dissuade the people from participating in the agitations and compared him to fallen Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak. He said there was no reason for army takeover as peaceful protest was constitutional right of everyone. He said thousands of people were protesting in Britain in favour of Palestinians but nobody fears a military intervention. He promised peaceful protests which will "save the country". Khan has given call for protest on Thursday against alleged rigging of last year`s polls which his party lost to Sharif`s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. He once again said that the fraud was done in the election to benefit Sharif. Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Khan has the blessing of the powerful military which is angry with Sharif over several issues including treason trial of former military chief Pervez Musharraf. Federal information minister Pervaiz Rashid told media in Lahore today that a former chief of ISI was back from abroad with the special purpose to advise Khan over protests.