Calling Islam a liberal religion, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday said he was a liberal and a follower of Allama Iqbal.
Khan was addressing reporters on the occasion of former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Masood Sharif Khattak’s joining the PTI.
In reaction to a recent statement by the Taliban in which they described Khan as a slave of the US and Europe as he called himself liberal, the PTI chief said there must be a misconception in the minds of the Taliban about the definition of liberalism. “Yes. I am liberal. I’m a follower of Allama Iqbal who was liberal,” Khan said. He said it seemed that those forces which played a role in blaming Taliban for Benazir Bhutto’s assassination were behind the statement.
Meanwhile, addressing the press conference, Khattak formally announced joining the PTI.
“I was inspired by Imran’s vision and now under his dynamic leadership we will bring change in the country,” he said. Welcoming Sharif in his party’s fold, Khan said no one could stop ‘the PTI ‘tsunami’.
He said corrupt politicians and political parties were scared of the PTI’s growing popularity. “The PTI will not accept any corrupt leader, there is no room for corrupt leaders in our party. However, our doors are open for the honest ones,” Khan said.
Taliban misconceive liberalism: Imran
