Imran Khan to boycott Pakistan's joint session of Parliament

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's efforts to forge an united political front against India received a rude shock today when Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan announced boycott of the joint session saying participation would mean "endorsing" leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Sharif last week called the joint session of bicameral parliament tomorrow to discuss tensions with India after India conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Imran said after party meeting that participation in the session would mean "endorsing" leadership of Sharif whom he wants to remove from office over alleged corruption.

"We have a clear line on the prime minister. We thought if we attend tomorrow, we would be endorsing him. But he has lost his moral authority because of the Panama leaks," he said.

Imran said that Sharif had also failed to implement the National Action Plan announced after Peshawar school attack to remove militancy.

He also blasted Sharif for failing to give forceful response to India in recent tension.

"When there was a ruckus after the Uri attack, where was Nawaz Sharif?" he asked.

"He was shopping in Gucci in London, whereas he should have provided leadership in Pakistan. There was no response from here," he said.

Imran repeated that Sharif has lost legitimacy as the prime minister after his family was mentioned in Panama leaks as having foreign properties.