Shireen Mazari clarifies accusations against Imran Khan in interview to US media

Clarifying the accusations on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for being 'pro-Taliban', senior party leader Shireen Mazari has said United States itself is now seeking a dialogue with the Talibans to end war and doing what Khan had initially suggested.

In an interview to CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Thursday after Khan's first speech after victory, Mazari spoke about party's win in elections, relations with US and how Pakistan will change under the PTI chief.

Referring to US planning to hold talks with Taliban, Mazari said US has now realized that the only way to have peace with Afghan Taliban was to have a dialogue with them. She clarified that US government’s peace talks with the Taliban is something Khan had suggested several years ago. "It took US several years and many deaths in Afghanistan to conclude that the only way to end war was to have a dialogue with the Taliban and the unitary government," she said.

On being asked about Imran's stance on blasphemy law and other controversial religious issues, Mazari maintained that in his first speech after victory, Khan had made it clear that under a established Pakistan all minorities will be given their due rights accordingly to the Constitution of Pakistan.

"Khan does what he says he will do and he does not indulge in double speech," she said, adding that the PTI chief will change Pakistan.