PM Imran says 'not anti-American', wants relations based on mutual respect

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said he was "not anti-American" and wanted stronger ties with the United States on the basis of mutual respect. 

During an interactive question and answer session with the public, the premier stated that he did not feel mal-intent towards the US, but rather aimed towards a mutual friendship with the superpower, free from interference in domestic affairs against public interest.

"I am not against any country, I am not anti-American, but yes, we can be against certain policies."

"I want the two countries to have a friendship...which means having mutual respect," said the premier.

"When a country gives an order to another country and you fight their war, hear 'do more' while you lose your people and suffer devastation in your country and in the end does not even say thank you – that is what I am against."

The PM’s statements referred to the ruling party’s allegations that the vote of no-confidence against him in the National Assembly (NA) was funded by foreign powers. In response to questions, he remarked that the United States’ interference would create poor relations between the countries.

“Death is better than servitude to another country,” Imran said and blamed the leaders of the joint opposition for "indulging the bad habits" of foreign powers. 

The premier also accused the opposition of accepting foreign funds to buy Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers. He further stated that the opposition had used public funds to garner support in the lower house.

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“I have access to money from four provinces, my government could afford to bribe opposition lawmakers - but what message would that send?” he stated.

PM Imran furthered that opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif was guilty of selling Pakistan off to foreign states - referring to the former’s statement “beggars can’t be choosers”, the premier accused Shehbaz of creating those ‘beggars’.

The premier vehemently stated that the members of the opposition had no fear of repercussions for breaking the law, “they should be in jail, no other country would allow this”.

A day earlier, President Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, hours after the National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri declared the opposition’s no-confidence motion “unconstitutional” and prorogued the house without voting on it.

The prime minister advised the president to dissolve the assembly under Article 58 of the Constitution. Imran took the decision of sending the summary after accusing the joint opposition of working with the United States to overthrow his government.