Nawaz, Modi meeting has 'underlying conflict of interest': Imran

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan, on Saturday took to Twitter, saying that there was a "conflict of interest" for a business associate to arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

The PTI chairman, however, welcomed the revival of relationships between the longstanding arch rivals.



"We welcome the thaw in Pak-India relations, but to have a business associate arrange the two prime ministers' meetings has an underlying conflict of interest," he tweeted.

1. We welcome the thaw in Pak-India relations but to have a business associate arrange the 2 PMs mtgs has an underlying conflict of interest

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 26, 2015

Referring to an earlier secret meeting between the two leaders, he said, "Meetings of the two prime ministers, from the secret meeting in Kathmandu to the one in Lahore, must be done through institutional frameworks with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the loop for sustainability."

2. Mtgs of the 2 PMs, from secret Kathmandu one to Lhr one, must be through institutional frameworks with MFA in the loop for sustainability

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 26, 2015

Further, Imran said that such meetings held between the prime ministers undermines a process whereby tensions can be eased, and raises questions and conflict of interest.

3. Mtgs of PMs through business associates undermine the detente process & raise questions of conflict of interest.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 26, 2015

The remarks come a day after Modi made a brief surprise visit to Lahore where he met with PM Nawaz and visited his residence in Raiwind.



It was the first time an Indian premier had stepped foot on Pakistani soil in more than 10 years and was seen by analysts as a step towards normalising ties between the two neighbours which have fought three wars.