Daily Times

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has told Britain he will retrieve the wealth looted from Pakistan and stashed in the UK by corrupt Pakistani politicians, The Telegraph reported.

In first meeting with British officials after his party swept the recently held general elections, the cricketer-turned-politician stressed he would pursue the laundered money.

In a meeting with the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew, Imran said it was his firm resolve to bring back to the country the money laundered to the UK. According to The Telegraph, no specific requests for investigations or seizures were made during the meeting. However, a spokesman for the British High Commission said, “Tackling corruption is UK government’s priority and we will continue to work constructively with Pakistan on this issue.” He said Britain has robust laws “for the recovery of illicit assets where there is evidence to do so.”

The Imran-led PTI largely based its election campaign on denouncing political leaders for looting the public and stashing money in foreign countries.

Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador Takashi Kurai on Friday visited Bani Gala to congratulate Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on his party’s victory in the general elections. During the meeting, ambassador Kurai discussed matters of bilateral interest with the PTI chairman.

Apart from the Japanese ambassador, UK, China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates envoys have all called on the PTI chairman since his party emerged winner in the July 25 polls. Besides, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also telephoned Imran Khan to congratulate him over his party’s victory, saying that India was ready to enter into a new era of relations with Pakistan.

Published in Daily Times, August 4^th 2018.