Imran Khan assures Chinese envoy that PTI protests not against CPEC

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has told China's Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong that his party's planned protest next month is not directed at the USD 46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

This message was conveyed to the Chinese envoy at Imran's Bani Gala residence on Tuesday.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has announced plans to stage a protest in Islamabad on November 2, the Express Tribune has reported.

Officially, there was no word from the PTI on the meeting, but sources said discussions revolved round the CPEC and the PTI's upcoming sit-in which aims to force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to present himself for accountability.

Imran is reported to have told the Chinese envoy that the PTI protest is aimed at the 'rampant corruption' of the government and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and had nothing to do with CPEC.

Both also agreed that Chinese investment was crucial for Pakistan's future and prosperity, sources were quoted by the paper, as saying.

Earlier this year, the Chinese embassy in Islamabad had issued a press statement calling on the political leadership of the country to resolve their issues for the smooth implementation of the CPEC.