‘U-turn Khan’ is the bu of jokes

Islamabad – Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has declared U-turns to be a “hallmark of great leadership”, provoking criticism from opponents and a slew of jokes from Pakistanis.

Khan, the cricketer-turned-premier, has come under fire since he took office in August for a string of apparent about-faces. They include backtracking from his claim that as prime minister he would only fly by commercial airliner, caving to Islamist pressure over his decision to appoint a member of a persecuted religious minority as an economic advisor, and allying himself with politicians he previously declared corrupt.

The opposition branded him ‘U-turn Khan’ and he defended himself, saying: “Both Hitler and Napoleon faced defeat as they did not change their strategies according to the situation ... Leaders should be ready to take U-turns,” he was quoted saying by Dawn newspaper.

Supporters tried to explain Khan was misusing the term “U-turn” and meant leaders must be flexible. “Dictators find it difficult to do course correction, leading countries into disaster, democratic leaders do timely course correction when needed!” wrote Minister Shireen Mazari. –