ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan castigating the establishment for involvement in pre-poll rigging on Thursday alleged that a PTI candidate in Gujrat was forced to withdraw from contesting the general elections.

Speaking at a press conference in the federal capital he said that his party candidate was forced to decline from contesting the forthcoming polls.

The PTI leader said the harassment by pro-government elements was pushing the country to the verge of a disaster and majority of the parties were concerned about the pre-poll rigging.

Mr Khan asserted that he was in contact with the PPP, PML-N and JI on one point agenda against the pre-poll rigging.

He criticized his opponents for launching a campaign against his wife, Jamima Khan, saying the wife of Salman Rushdi - the author of a book ‘Shame’ - could not be condemned for the acts of her husband.

Mr Khan said that Jamima had converted to Islam and by defaming her what message the detractors want to give to the non- Muslims. Do they want to dishearten people from adopting Islam as their religion, he questioned.

The PTI chairman vowed not to succumb to such tactics and would expose the corrupts in national politics.

Mr Khan claimed that he would not associate with those who had plundered the country, come what may.

The chairman asserted that if he had a Jew connection then he would have been running in the power corridors. “I was offered by Gen Zia a place in the Junejo cabinet and time and again by Nawaz league to get 30 National Assembly seats along with ministries of my choice, but I refused,” Mr Khan claimed.

“Even the present government was ready to give me a lot, had I joined the PML-Q, but I do not believe in back door politics and secret deals,” said Mr Khan, adding: “I am in politics for the sake of bringing a positive change.”

Replying to a query he said the PTI had a manifesto and programme, and it could not make adjustments with anyone including the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.