LAHORE: Chief of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan said on Sunday that his party would have boycotted the upcoming presidential election, had the party candidate, Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmad, not requested for the PTI's participation in the presidential race, DawnNews reported.

Khan said he agreed with the stance of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) but his party was participating in the presidential elections under protest.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore after attending a party meeting, the PTI chief reiterated his stance that a closed-door session between himself, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Army chief should precede a public forum such as the APC to curb militancy and address the overall law and order and security situation in the country.

Khan said that he would not particpate in an APC if the closed-door session was not held prior to it.

Moreover the PTI chief also claimed that arrangements for rigging of the local body elections were taking place on the same scale as the rigging that took place during May 11 general elections this year.

He also indicated full-fledged protests would be staged on the roads and streets in order to save democracy.

Later, talking to DawnNews Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervez Rasheed said that the government was willing to hold a closed-door session with Imran Khan and the Chief of Army Staff and expressed hopes that that PTI chief would participate in the APC convened by the government.