No PM can run an independent foreign policy: Imran Khan

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Imran (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that no Pakistani prime minister can run an independent foreign policy if the nation does not take a stand.

While addressing the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, PTI chairman Imran Khan said that if the nation does not take a stand, no prime minister will be able to formulate an independent foreign policy, adding that if one takes a stand for their national interests, they will be respected, but if one “cleans their shoes”, they will be looked down upon.

He further said that bowing down to the USA pressure meant to brace oneself for the ‘Do More’ mantra from the superpower.

He said even the National Security Committee (NSC) had admitted that the letter received from the USA was an ‘interference’ in the country’s internal affairs. 

The former Premier said that they were planning to purchase cheaper oil and wheat from Russia but they were ousted by an American conspiracy. It would have been easier for me to not go to Russia, but I went there in the interest of my people, he added.

He said that the PTI was going to stage a mega show soon, but would not disclose what they were going to do. He also expressed the fear of rigging in the by-elections. "The country will be in jeopardy if the economy weakens. Shehbaz Sharif is alive in only advertisement. He gave advertisements worth Rs50 billion from the nation's wealth."

Imran Khan said that the law and the constitution was being violated presently. "Our workers were badly tortured when we protested against the regime change," he added.