Ousted Pakistani PM Khan gives govt. 6-day ultimatum to announce new elections

Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned the government to call a new election within six days or he will stage a rally and march on the capital, Islamabad, with millions of his supporters.

He issued the ultimatum on Thursday, after he joined the rally of thousands of demonstrators in Islamabad, with plans to overtake part of Islamabad until the government gave in to his demand for new polls.

On Wednesday, thousands of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s supporters heeded his call to march to the capital from nearby cities. Khan himself traveled there in a dramatic fashion by helicopter to a highway some 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Islamabad.

“I want to give a message to this imported government to announce elections within six days. Dissolve the assemblies and call an election in June,” he said to the crowd, warning that he would stage a fresh rally next week if elections were not scheduled.

He then called on his supporters to disperse after 24 hour of chaos, blockade and clashes between police and protesters across the country.

The government has repeatedly announced it has no plans to hold a new election.

The protests has prompted a crackdown and more than 1,700 Khan’s supporters were arrested.

Pakistan's capital blockaded ahead of rally by ex-PM Khan's supporters

Pakistani authorities close all routes leading to the capital ahead of a planned opposition protest in Islamabad.

Prior to the rallies, the coalition government headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had pledged to stop Khan’s supporters from pouring into the city, calling the rally an attempt to “divide the nation and promote chaos.”

Speaking at a press conference in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Tuesday, Khan promised to carry on with the rally. “Try to stop us, if you can,” Khan said, addressing authorities.

He said he would lead the largest march in Pakistan’s history, and that he was not afraid of death, as he urged his followers to “get ready for sacrifices” for the sake of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Khan, a former cricket star, came to power in 2018 until being ousted last month by a no-confidence vote in Parliament. Since then, he has held mass rallies across the country, saying his removal from office was the result of a US-organized plot and collusion with Sharif.

Khan was voted in by an electorate weary of the dynastic politics of the country's two major parties.

He had pledged to shatter decades of entrenched corruption and cronyism. He is, however, believed to have fallen out with Pakistan’s powerful generals.

The ex-PM was under criticism for what was viewed as his failure to rectify the country’s dire economic situation, including its crippling debt, shrinking foreign currency reserves and soaring inflation.

But he retains mass support throughout the country, particularly among the youth.

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