Panamagate: PTI to skip Turkish President's Parliament address in protest

Islamabad [Pakistan], Nov. 13 (ANI): The Imran Khan led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that it will not attend a joint parliamentary sitting to be addressed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on November 17 in a bid to continue their protest over the Panamagate scandal. The Turkish leader will arrive in Islamabad on a two-day state visit next week, reports the Express Tribune. PTI lawmakers have been boycotting parliament's proceedings in protest against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's refusal to offer himself up for accountability in the wake of the Panama Papers' revelations. "We have great respect for President Erdogan and the PTI welcomes his visit, but attending the joint session that will be held under the leadership of a controversial prime minister is not an option for the party," said PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. He said his party had a clear stance on the Panamagate scandal and the 'corruption of the Prime Minister'. "The PTI will request President Erdogan to take some time out of his busy schedule for a meeting with a delegation of the PTI outside Parliament House," he added. The PTI has also announced that it will continue its boycott even after the Novevember 17 joint sitting and will also not attend the National Assembly's next session starting from November 18. Meanwhile, some PTI leaders have disapproved this decision of their leadership. A PTI leader, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, tweeted, "The PTI must attend the parliament's joint session. Politics is always inclusive. Such actions will harm no one but the party's image and system." (ANI)