Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday that his country has accepted China’s version of the treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang province, as Islamabad has “extreme closeness and ties” with Beijing.
He said the Chinese version is completely different from what is being reported in the Western media.
“Because of our extreme closeness and ties with China, we truly accept the Chinese version,” he said.
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The prime minister, interacting with Chinese journalists in Beijing as the centenary of the ruling Communist Party, said it was hypocrisy that human rights violations in “occupied Kashmir” were not being addressed, while the Uighur situation and Hong Kong highlight was being done.
“This is hypocritical. Human rights are being violated very badly in other parts of the world such as Occupied Kashmir. But Western media hardly comment on it,” Dawn quoted Khan as saying.
Praising the Communist Party of China (CPC) for its unique model, the Prime Minister of Pakistan said: “Until now, we were told that Western democracy is the best way to improve society.”
“The CPC has presented an alternative model and they have defeated all western democracies the way they have exposed merit in the society”, Khan said.
Stating that a society succeeds only when it has a system in place to hold the ruling elite accountable and ensure competency, Khan said: “Until now, the feeling was that electoral democracy would bring leaders on the basis of merit and make them The best way is to be held accountable.”
“But the CPC has achieved much better [outcomes] without democracy. Their system of bringing out talent and bringing them forward is better than the democratic system.”
Prime Minister Imran also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping and said that “one can become a leader only after going through a long struggle”.
“This process does not exist in Western democracies. An American president doesn’t go through this rigorous process.”
Highlighting Pakistan’s strong ties with China, he said Beijing has “always stood by us” whenever Islamabad “has been in crisis politically or internationally”.
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Emphasizing that relations between the two sides have only strengthened, Khan said, “the people of China have a special place in the hearts of Pakistanis”.
“You see a strange great power rivalry in the region. The United States is wary of China and has formed a regional alliance called the ‘Quad.’ We think to expect countries like Pakistan to take sides with the US and Western powers. It is unfair,” he said.
The Prime Minister also used this opportunity to target neighboring India.
“China is very strong. India will gain much more by engaging in trade with China rather than acting as a counter balance. If there is one to lose, it will be India,” he said, adding that Pakistan is not in its relationship with China. Committed to strengthen ties, be it politically or economically.
The Pakistan Prime Minister’s remarks come at a time when several other countries around the world are criticizing China’s treatment of the Uighur population.
The United Nations last month issued a statement on behalf of 42 countries urging Beijing to allow immediate, meaningful and free access to Xinjiang for independent observers.
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