Imran Khan was
given three options by the Pakistan “establishment”: resignation, no-confidence
motion, election, and the cricketer-turned-politician weighs heavily in favour
of holding fresh elections, after a no-confidence motion was filed against his
government in Pakistan’s National Assembly. Khan spoke about the options during
an interview with ARY News. “We said elections were the best option, I cannot
even think about resigning and as far as no-confidence vote is concerned, I believe
in fighting till the end.”

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Khan’s statement
about holding fresh elections comes at a time when several leaders of his own
party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, have defected and are expected to vote
against him in the no-confidence motion. Khan said even if the no-trust vote
were to fail, “we cannot run the government with such people (defectors).” “It
will be better for Pakistan if we hold elections again. If we win this vote, it
is a very good idea to go for fresh elections,” he said.

Also Read | The swift rise and steep fall of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf

Imran Khan also
laid out the sequence of events that have led to the no-trust vote calling it a
conspiracy that was being hatched since August, 2021. Khan further said that
there is a threat to his life claiming that those conspiring to remove his
government were “scared knowing that even if he is ousted, the public will
continue to support him.”

But Khan is not
one to budge. “What do they think? They will spend Rs 20 billion, Rs 25 billion
and topple my government and I will watch silently?” “I will not watch
silently,” he said, adding, “This is why I am saying openly, there is a threat
to my life.”

Also Read | US denies Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s claim of “foreign conspiracy” to depose him

Hours before Imran
Khan made the claim, Fasil Vawda, Pakistan’s Information Minister and a leader
of Khan’s party, stated that a conspiracy was being hatched to assassinate the
prime minister over his refusal to “sell the country.”

Khan, in course of
the interview, said his life was under threat because he did not suit those
involved in the conspiracy as well as “people like Shehbaz Sharif, who polishes
boots” and “are slaves to money.” The Pakistan National Assembly is scheduled
to hold the no-trust vote Sunday.