ISLAMABAD – Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad was sworn inas the world’s oldest leader. Mahathir ousted the government of NajibRazak, which ruled the nation for over six decades, while maintaining hisrecord of never losing a campaign.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has admired theMalaysian leader for as long as one can remember.

In 2006, before PTI became a leading political party, Mahathir Mohamadvisited Pakistan to attend a conference titled, ‘A clash of civilisationsor A clash of interests?’ on the invitation of Imran Khan. It was said thatthis was the first time in the history of Pakistan that a former primeminister of a foreign country arrived in Pakistan on the invitation of apolitical party. The conference was attended by media personnel and thewho’s who of the political industry of Pakistan.

Following the 2006 visit, PTI chief Imran Khan in an interview to *TheGuardian* in 2012, stated that Mahathir Mohamad is one of the fewinternational leaders whom he has always admired. Among the other politicalleaders that he admires, Khan named Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan;Brazil’s Lula da Silva; and Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew.

Moreover, as soon as the Malaysian Prime Minister was announced, Khan tookto Twitter to congratulate the newly-elected PM. He stated that Najib Razakwas the reason that Mahathir came out of a 15-year retirement. He continuedthat Mahathir had won the elections despite attempts by Razak’s governmentto manipulate the elections.

Not only that, following the Mahathir’s election victory, Khan managed towoo a group of lawmakers from South Punjab to join his party on the sameday, a political achievement that has boosted his political fortunes thatis likely to play a key role in polls.