ISLAMABAD: In round two of his diatribe on Thursday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in a message to the United States government said it is interfering with Pakistan’s internal politics and should withdraw its statements regarding the ongoing political crisis.

The US State Department today in a statement lent support to Nawaz Sharif’s government, saying the “elected government is in place”.

Imran, however, said the government is a “servant of the US” that “polishes the shoes of the Americans”.

He said that he is familiar with the workings of the American and British democratic systems and said that the US would never accept a rigged election.

“If an election took place in the US and a Congressman said that a majority of the votes could not be verified, wouldn't that constitute a full blown enquiry in America?” he asked.

Imran appealed to US ambassador Richard Olson to convey his message to the State Department, and asked “if Pakistanis are children of a lesser god”.

“Why one law for us and another for you? Why are our democracies different?”

Urging Olsen to take back the statements of the US government, Imran said Nawaz is hiding behind the army and the US to protect his rigged election.

Thursday marked the eighth day of the Imran Khan-led movement against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a campaign that has partially paralysed life in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi as containers and police personnel guard state buildings against charged protesters.

Although Imran is unflinching in his demand for the premier's resignation, PTI sources say the party chairman has "no other option left" as his earlier calls for a civil disobedience movement and the mass resignation of PTI lawmakers from assemblies have yielded no results.

Imran rallied supporters with the aim to remove Nawaz as prime minister in protest of alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections. Journalists present in D-chowk — the final destination of the PTI sit-in — say that crowds are thinning as the drawn-out protest enters its eighth day.

Raging Imran vows to dharna till death

Imran Khan talks on his cellphone prior to addressing supporters during an anti-government protest in Islamabad on August 21— AFP Photo

A visibly charged Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan blasted the government, resorting to curses and threats while calling for a nation-wide protest.

The PTI Chairman called on his supporters to expand the civil disobedience movement into all the provinces.

Imran threatened both the interior secretary and newly appointed IG Islamabad, warning that they should not think they would be spared.

Imran said he would personally take the new IG of Islamabad to jail if any of his supporters were hurt.

“In my passion, I may punch you!” the PTI Chairman said, adding that he would stay in the Red Zone, “for as long as I live”.

“It is our democratic right to protest…we are not breaking any laws. I request the Supreme Court to have these containers removed so that life can return to normal,” Imran pleaded.

The PTI Chairman also reiterated many points from previous speeches, including his principle demand: that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has to resign.

END OF LIVE UPDATES

3.46pm

Imran says his supporters from all provinces should converge in Islamabad. He orders his supporters and PTI workers to remove the containers from Islamabad's Red Zone. He says he will fight until the last ball.

3.45pm

“Are you ready?” Imran asks the crowd. “Are you ready to stand with me?” The crowd cheers.

3.44pm

“We will not spare you Nawaz, we will retrieve all the wealth you have looted.”

Imran calls on citizens all across Pakistan to take to the streets in protest against the government.

3.42pm

Imran threatens the interior secretary, saying he shouldn't think he will be spared.

3.41pm

Today, you have to stand with the captain. The captain will keep standing, Imran says, urging his supporters not to be afraid of police personnel. He says the hearts of the policemen were with the people.

Imran says he will personally take the new IG of Islamabad to jail if any of his supporters are hurt.

“In my passion, I may punch you!” the PTI Chairman says.

3.40pm

Imran orders PTI activists to remove containers from the Red Zone.

3.39pm

Cursing the government in strong words, Imran raises his call for civil disobedience yet again.

3.37pm

The PTI Chairman says he will stay in the Red Zone, “for as long as I live”.

3.36pm

“It is our democratic right to protest…we are not breaking any laws. I request the Supreme Court to have these containers removed so that life can return to normal,” Imran pleas.

3.33pm

"Our demand is that Nawaz Sharif must resign....our talks have ended and they want to talk again."

"Nawaz should resign because the man who orchestrated the biggest electoral robbery in this country cannot deliver justice," Imran says.

"I will not leave before you resign...I appeal to Supreme Court judges to take notice of the containers that have been placed," he adds.

"If the judges want to go to the Supreme Court and they are encountering problems, then we will facilitate them."

3.28pm

"Pakistanis, today is your test...listen to your conscience and not to the coward man who is sitting in the prime minister house," Imran says.

3.27pm

He challenges the police to shoot at him if they wanted shoot at anyone.

3.25pm

Imran asks the police to decide what they wanted to do and if they wanted to harm their own people.

3.24pm

Imran calls Nawaz a coward, along with some derogatory language.