LAHORE: The extremist groups not ready to come to the negotiations table would be facing Imran Khan in a gunfight if one goes by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman's statement given at a party function here on Sunday.

"If the Taliban groups not in favour of talks continue their terror hits to derail the peace process, they'll find me armed standing by the armed forces," he told the maiden meeting of the PTI Punjab Council here.

Reiterating his opposition to army operation in North Waziristan, he said it would badly hurt 700,000 innocent tribesmen, expressing fear that the victims would also take up arms and become Taliban.

Mr Khan denied the impression that the statement in support of the operation had been given to keep the PTI's popularity intact. "I'm not after vote bank rather I take decisions by my conscience."

He said the PTI was the first to promote dialogue with the Taliban and the ceasefire announced by the Taliban vindicated the party's stance that dialogue should be the first option.

The party never asked that those who wanted any lenience for those who wanted to rule the country at gunpoint but it did propose to isolate those who wanted to talk from those who didn't, he said.

"I'd be ready to counter those who would dare to implement Islam at gunpoint," Mr Khan said.