'The only way forward': Former PM Imran Khan demands immediate polls

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chairman Chairman Imran Khan on Monday demanded immediate elections in the country after his "unceremonious" ouster from the prime minister's office.

The announcement comes hours after the National Assembly elected Shehbaz Sharif as Pakistan's 23rd prime minister, with 174 members of the lower house of parliament casting their vote in favour of the PML-N president.

But Khan, who even before his ouster claimed that his removal from office was part of a foreign conspiracy, has refused to accept Shehbaz as the prime minister.

On Wednesday I will be holding a jalsa in Peshawar after Isha - my first jalsa after being removed through a foreign- instigated regime change. I want all our people to come, as Pakistan was created as an independent, sovereign state not as a puppet state of foreign powers.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 11, 2022

"We are demanding immediate elections as that is the only way forward — to let the people decide, through fair & free elections, whom they want as their prime minister," the PTI chairman said.

He also announced that on Wednesday — two days from now — he will be holding a rally in Peshawar after Isha prayers — his first jalsa after being "removed through a foreign- instigated regime change".

"I want all our people to come, as Pakistan was created as an independent, sovereign state, not as a puppet state of foreign powers," the ex-prime minister said.