Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday lauded India for having an "independent foreign policy" that was favourable to its own people.
Addressing a public gathering in Dargai, Malakand, PM Imran maintained that like India – which imported oil from Russia despite American sanctions and an ally of the US as well – his foreign policy would also favour the people of Pakistan.
“I haven’t bowed before anyone and will not let my nation bow either," Imran said.
The premier maintained that he said “absolutely not” to the European Union envoy who sought Pakistan’s support against Russia in the Russia-Ukraine conflict because "they broke protocol by making the request". He added that Pakistan would have gained nothing by complying with the EU's request.
“We became part of America’s war against Afghanistan and lost 80,000 people and $100 billion”, he said, asking National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif what did Pakistan gained from the war on terror.
The prime minister emphasised that he was not like Shehbaz who “polished boots when he saw a white man in a suit”
“I was a free man when I read the kalma, I took an oath that I will not bow before anyone but God”, PM Imran reiterated, claiming that his foreign policy would favour his people.
He maintained that the “hypocrites” – referring to the opposition – would never stand for their nation because they “worship money”. According to the premier, the nation would never progress if it remained a "slave" to the world’s superpowers, and would only prosper when it stood on its own feet.
“For these 3.5 years (of the PTI government) we have only tried to help Pakistan prosper”, PM Imran said, adding that no government had done what the PTI government had.
Dissident MNAs
Commenting on the recent departure of several lawmakers from PTI, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that these people had “sold” themselves and all of Pakistan knew that. “People will not believe you, people understand everything”. He urged them to come back to the party's fold, saying he was ready to forgive them.
The premier claimed that social media would forever dub them as people who sold their conscience and that their offspring would be unable to "find spouses and would be ridiculed at school".
“You are destroying the future of your children by accepting this money”, he said, adding that the days for such “Changa Manga” politics were gone.
Imran said that the populace knew the faces of the “three stooges” from the opposition who had been stealing for years and had several NAB corruption cases against them.
“The veil has been lifted from the eyes of the nation.” Imran claimed that he would forgive the MNAs who left PTI and urged them to return. “I am like a father forgiving, my children,” he said, asking them to return for the sake of their children’s future.
Referring to the opposition leaders -- Shehbaz, Asif Ali Zardari, and Maulana Fazl -- Imran said they would "badly lose this match" against him.