Pakistan

PTI will not attend Erdogan's address to Parliament, confirms Imran

Rejecting Turkish envoy’s request, PTI chief says party stands against PM Nawaz's ‘corruption’

News Desk November 15, 2016

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan addressing media persons in Islamabad on Tuesday, November 15, 2016. SCREENGRAB

Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has upheld its earlier stance of not attending the joint session of Parliament on November 17, which will be addressed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“Turkish ambassador requested us to attend the joint session of the Parliament... we reviewed the decision but have reached the conclusion to continue the boycott,” Imran told reporters in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The PTI chief said that the party’s consultative meeting came up with the decision after much deliberation, claiming that attending the session would be equal to endorsing the premier.

PTI to reassess its call to boycott Erdogan's parliament address

“The PM did not respond positively on the calls for inquiry into the Panama scandal for the last seven months,” he said.

‘We respect Turkish request’

The cricketer-turned-politician said although PTI respected the Turkish envoy’s request; it would stand by its stance against the premier’s ‘corruption’.

We respect the invitation of the Turkish minister & welcome him to Pakistan. But we can not endorse NS by going to NA.#IKPresscon
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 15, 2016

"There is a country that we love more than China and its Turkey," Imran said before adding, "We welcome the Turkish president on his visit to the country."

COMMENTS (10)

shaukat ali | 8 years ago | Reply It's OK leave him alone. He's 67 now and acts a little younger because of his charisma but in an another few years he will a spent old man whom time will forget and move on. He wasted the prime years boycotting elections and carrying out dharnas and stirring violence. Because he knows he can never win an election fair and square.

Mian | 8 years ago | Reply Well done IK! You never fail to disappoint us. A record.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply I tell you IK, though always bigheaded, suffered some serious brain damage after that fall..

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply All the kids lecturing Imran Khan in the above comments, why don't you spend some time googling what Erdogan has done to Turkey.

BrainBro | 8 years ago | Reply Imran is just a man baby. Always crying. Always wanting attention. What a shame.

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply Bad decision I agree with Acorn Guts.

Shuaib | 8 years ago | Reply He is incapable of diplomacy and lacks diplomatic manners.

Acorn Guts | 8 years ago | Reply Man child.

sgrr | 8 years ago | Reply IK does not know anything about the values; our society possesses. The Guest is always a guest of whole family. In which family and environment IK was brought up; It's a mysterious question.

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply How can a stooge of Pakistani dark forces face a Turkish democratic leader who defeated dark forces of his country? Turkey is our one of very few friends and this is how Prime Minister in waiting behaves with him.

Replying to X