Leader who doesn’t take U-turns according to situations isn’t a leader: PM Imran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said a leader who does not take “U-turns” according to the requirements of the situation is not a real leader.

During an interaction with journalists at the PM House, the premiere citing an example from his cricket days when he led Pakistan's national team said, "We used to make a strategy and then step out into the field but if the opponent team formed a strategy against ours then we would have to change it."

Speaking to Geo News, senior journalist Mazhar Barlas who attended the meeting with PM Imran said that the premier also referred to Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte and said, “Hitler and Napoleon suffered huge defeats and caused losses as 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 and find another way," the senior journalist further quoted PM Imran as explaining.  "A leader who does not know how to take U-turns is not successful," the prime minister added.

PM Imran further said, "What Nawaz Sharif did in court was not a U-turn but a lie."

The premier vowed, "We will uphold the decisions taken by the Supreme Court." PM Imran also stressed, "There is a need for amendment in accountability laws."

Further, the senior journalist said that the premier's interaction with journalists mainly focused on the country's economic situation and accountability process. 

The premier said that they have received such a big package from China that they are not announcing it, Barlas said and added that PM Imran explained that other countries will start demanding more money from China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping asked the premier to not announce the amount, the senior journalist added.

Speaking about his recent trip to China, the prime minister said, “Concrete results of my visit are beginning to show. We are receiving all forms of aid from China and are satisfied."

“No other previous premiers’ tours to China were as successful as mine was,” he added.

Further, the premier was quoted as saying, "The next three to six months are difficult but from next year onward our economic situation is going to improve significantly and we will be on the right track."

Regarding the ongoing money laundering probe and the foreign assets owned by Pakistanis, PM Imran said, “We have traced $15 billion that was sent to Dubai from Pakistan.”

"Work is under way to bring back looted wealth," he added. "We have also signed agreements with Britain and Switzerland," the premier continued.

While speaking about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's decision to not give chairmanship of Public Accounts Committee to Shehbaz Sharif, the premier said, "Those facing corruption cases cannot be appointed PAC chairperson."

"We will not appoint Shehbaz  Sharif as PAC chairperson under any circumstances," he upheld.