Victorious Imran sends peace overture to India
PAK POLLS Says must resolve Kashmir through talks after win marred by charges of rigging
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) party chief Imran Khan, who looks set to become the next prime minister, on Thursday pledged to match every step India takes towards Pakistan with two, in his first speech after declaring victory, “thanks to God,” in a divisive general election marking only the second civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country.
“We want to improve our relations with India, if their leadership also wants it. This blame game that whatever goes wrong in Pakistan is because of India and vice versa brings us back to square one,” 65-year-old cricketer-turned -politician Khan said late on Thursday afternoon after his party emerged as the single largest in the National Assembly according to local media.
“This is not how we will grow, and it is detrimental to the subcontinent,” said Khan, who complained that he had been treated by the Indian media like he was a Bollywood villain .
“If they take one step towards us, we will take two, but at least we need a start.” An official announcement of the seat tally by the election commission was still awaited, more than 24 hours after polling ended.
A tally by Dawn newspaper showed PTI leading in 120 seats, shy of the 137 (out of 272 contested seats) needed for a majority in the National Assembly.
If they take one step towards us, we will take two, but at least we need a start
IMRAN KHAN, PTI chief
relationship with Pakistan, analysts tracking the bilateral relationship said.
According to them, the army will continue dictating Islama-