Imran Khan to boycott polls under Musharraf regime

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's cricketing legend-turned-politician Imran Khan has announced that he would boycott elections held under the regime of President Pervez Musharraf and has urged the rest of the opposition to do the same.

Khan, who is chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, said: "All the opposition parties should make it clear that no dialogue would be held with the Musharraf regime."

Using cricketing term, he added that they should stop "playing on two sides of the wicket".

Khan told a news conference in Hyderabad that since Musharraf had been offering 'concessions' to coalition partners of the government, this political set-up is detrimental to people's interest.

A member National Assembly from Mianwali, Khan said the law and order situation had worsened in Sindh and Punjab and regretted that there was no rule of law in the country.

He said the opposition should remain united for a movement against the military government and the no-confidence move against the prime minister was the first step towards the removal of this regime.

He said no elections would be acceptable under General Musharraf, as even international reports have indicated massive rigging during the last two elections held under his regime.