LONDON, July 23 (APP)- Terming the Local Bodies System as the bedrock of democracy, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan urged the Government to remove the associated weakness and allow the arrangement to continue as it benefit the common man at the grass root level.Speaking at the meet-the-press programme of UK-based Pakistan Journalists Association at West London Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington on Wednesday evening, he made a passionate appeal against its abolition.

The PTI Chief suggested setting up of jury system or panchayat at the union level in all villages across the country to deal with cases of local nature because according to him the villagers are not in a position to engage lawyers to fight their cases.

Speaking on other issues, he said the challenges facing Pakistan demand total reforms in all the vital socio-economic sectors.  He was of the view that unless institutions become stronger,  the country will not progress.

Khan said Pakistan has suffered from strong personalities and weak institutions and his party was determined to reverse this process. Describing his party as ‘nationalist’ in nature, he said PTI desire a Pakistan free from all outside interferences and able to take its own decisions.

He called for developing a national consensus on war on terror through a robust debate in the Parliament and seeking a way to end the conflict in FATA and collateral damage to Pakistan.

Khan linked the Kashmir issue to turmoil along the western borders and said it must be resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

While defending his party’s decision to stay away from the 2008 Parliamentary elections, he said PTI will contest forthcoming NA-55 election now that the apex judiciary has been restored.

The PTI Chairman called for establishing a government of consensus in Afghanistan with active input from US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran. He ruled out a military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and claimed it is been waged to help few beneficiaries.

He said US and its allies  have spent at least six billion dollars in fighting Taliban since 2001 and yet the Taliban continue to control 60 percent of the country. Imran was of the opinion that peace in FATA and in Afghanistan will only return when the foreign forces leave the region.

He rebutted allegations that the UK face terror threat from south west Asia and said instead the British policies are  leading to radicalisation of the youth in this country.

Responding to a question, Khan said he is endeavouring to build PTI on the basis of strong institutional principles rather than make it as a one-man show.

In this regard he cited the case of  Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital which has been declared as the best NGO run facility and said even he had to pay for the treatment of his late father.