ISLAMABAD – Imran Khan, the Prime Minister-in-waiting has said Britain mustreturn looted money to his country which is allegedly being stashed bycorrupt Pakistani politicians in the capital city, London.

The former international cricketer, who is all set to take over the countryin next few days, expressed the remarks in his first meeting with Britishofficials after securing victory in the general elections, as per thereports carried by the British paper, the Telegraph.

In the meeting with Thomas Drew, the UK’s High Commissioner to Pakistan,Khan said it was “our firm resolve to bring back to the country the moneylaundered to the UK.”

Imran Khan rose to power on a populist anti-corruption wave after he spent22 years of his life decrying the corrupt political elite of the country.

His request to the UK diplomat was in a reference to the assets stashed byformer Pakistani premier, Nawaz Sharif and his family which owns propertiesin upscale areas of London.

The issue of minting money and sending it abroad has dominated Pakistan’spolitical landscape ever since the Panama Papers leak sent shock wavesacross the country and exposed the offshore dealings of the former rulingfamily.

Investigations were launched in Pakistan at the highest level with NawazSharif first ousted from office and then subsequently sentenced to 10 yearsin jail on charges relating to the purchase of the London flats, theAvenfield House.

Commenting on the request put forth by Imran Khan, a spokesman for theBritish High Commission said that tackling corruption was a UK governmentpriority and the British authorities will continue to work constructivelywith Pakistan on this issue.

‘Britain has robust laws for the recovery of illicit assets where there isevidence to do so,’ he insisted.