One who doesn’t take U-turns isn’t a leader, asserts PM Imran

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed on Friday that a leader who does not take 'U-turns' keeping ground realities in mind is not a real leader.

During an interaction with journalists at the PM House, the premiere, who is often criticised for changing his stance abruptly, also tried to bolster his point through multiple examples.

'We used to make a strategy and then step out into the field, but if the opponent team forms a strategy against ours then we will have to change it,' said the premier.

The prime minister tried to reinforce his point by stating that Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte suffered huge defeats "because they did not take U-turns."

"If you are walking and there is a wall in front of you, then you will have to change find another way," he told a journalist.

PM Imran elaborated that what his predecessor Nawaz Sharif did in court was not a U-turn but a lie.

The premier also aired his opinion on matters of national importance and called for amending accountability laws.

PAC Chairmanship

The prime minister, who has a strong opinion against corruption, has also denied giving the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to Shehbaz Sharif, the leader of the opposition in National Assembly.

“Designating Shehbaz as PAC chairman would be tantamount to a joke with the nation,” he commented, adding that the PML-N president is facing a corruption probe.

Drive Against Money-Laundering

PM Imran said that the drive against money-laundering is in full swing and yielding results. Around $15 billion worth of properties have been detected only in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, he said.

The government is making efforts to sign agreements with various countries to bring back the plundered money, he said, adding that pacts have been inked with Switzerland and Britain.

Criticism from the opposition has doubled after properties in foreign countries were detected, he said.

China Visit

Commenting about his recent tour to China, the prime minister said that the trip remained successful above and beyond all expectations. It will yield long-lasting results, he said, adding that visits by former PMs were not  successful enough.

Talking about the agreements with China, the prime minister said that the details about these deals could not be made public.

However, he hoped that Pakistan’s balance-of-payments would be stable with Chinese assistance, adding that trade and investment will also received a boost.