ISLAMABAD: Reiterating his stance to continue his movement till the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, PTI chief Imran Khan announced on Sunday that his party would not hold any more dialogue with the ruling PML-N.

“No more dialogue with the PML-N as the leadership of the ruling party has chosen the path of violence,” Mr Khan said while addressing his supporters.

He said the government believed that the movement would end if arrest warrants of the PTI and PAT chiefs were issued, but it was a misconception.

He said he had heard that orders for his arrest had been issued but PTI’s supporters would shut down the country if that happened.

“Both Qadri and I have been charged with terrorism. I am a terrorist to you, Nawaz Sharif, because you are terrorised and I will continue fighting against injustice,” he said.

Mr Khan said PML-N leaders were lodging an FIR against him, while he would lodge a case against the prime minister, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for killing innocent people.

“Yesterday, we were not ready but we are ready today to counter the police attack,” he said.

Mr Khan claimed that the government had violated the international law by using teargas against peaceful protesters.

He said 741 police personnel had refused to perform duty in Islamabad and it was the beginning of ‘new Pakistan’.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is feeling worried because of PTI movement.”

He said he would remain outside the Parliament House until the resignation of Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif.

“I request the nation, including civil servants, to rebel against the PML-N government.”

The PTI chief asked why the government had blockaded Islamabad and on what basis it had attacked the protesters.

“Nawaz Sharif is a fascist and he does not believe in democracy. ‘Gullu Butts’ of the government also attacked media persons,” he said.

Mr Khan said the prime minister and top police officials of Islamabad would soon be booked for their ‘crimes’.

“The nation must decide now whether it wants Nawaz’s kingdom or freedom,” he added.

Talking to Dawn after visiting injured PTI activists in the Federal Government Services Hospital, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said the PTI would not resume dialogue with the government on the ongoing crisis after Saturday night’s violence.

“We will not continue dialogue with the murderers,” he said.

Mr Khattak accused the government of not being serious in settling the issue through dialogue.

“We were of the opinion that Chaudhry Nisar was a sane person but he proved to be the master of Gullu Butts and he has to pay the price for his wrongdoing,” he said.

When asked whether the PTI could lodge the FIR against the police action when Article 245 was in force, Mr Khattak said the article provided protection to the army and not to police.

He said the PTI would carry on its sit-in till the resignation of the Sharif brothers.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2014