ISLAMABAD: Defending PM Imran Khan`s recent outburst against Western powers, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on Wednesday conceded that he should not have done so publicly.

Saying that the European Union should not tell Pakistan what to do and that it was the right of the prime minister to protect his country and its prestige, the finance minister defended PM Khan`s comments.

Mr Tarin was referring to a recent speech by Mr Khan in which he lashed out at the bloc`s ambassadors for their `undiplomatic` statement asl(ing Pakistan to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. `I don`t think we should worry about what they [EUJ will do,` Mr Tarin told reporters during a press conference.

Mr Tarin recalled that the EU representatives had sent a letter to Pakistan, asking it to vote against Russia, adding that `our PM just shared his sentiments on it`.

He recalled that the EU had remained silent on India`s violations of UN resolutions and international law and that `Pakistan had just abstained from voting` in the United Nations General Assembly session on Russia.

Defending the premier for his remarks, Mr Tarin said the EU should not tell Pakistan what to do and that it was the right of the prime minister to protect his country and its prestige. The premier `just reacted publicly, which may be, he should not have done,` the minister added.-Staff Reporter