Prime Minister Imran Khan was quoted on Friday by various media outlets as having made somewhat interesting remarks about his shift in stance on major issues.

The prime minister had convened a meeting with a few journalists and columnists at the PM House in Islamabad. As the conversation reportedly turned towards him changing stances, popularly referred to as "U-turns" by the media and politicians, the premier sought to set the record straight.

Geo News reported the PM as having said that "a leader who does not take 'U-turns' according to the requirements of the situation is not a real leader."

Furthermore, the prime minister was quoted as having made historical references to Napoleon and Hitler. Express Tribune quoted the premier as saying: "If Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte had taken U-turns, they would not have suffered such heavy losses."

Commenting on the development, Islamabad Bureau Chief for Dunya News Khawar Ghumman expressed amazement that while "almost all TV channels are discussing PM's statement on U-turns, none has any media person who was actually present in the meeting".

So even though it is not clear who the participants of the meeting were, the statements drew varied reactions from political figures and journalists alike.

According to Geo News, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah while criticising the statements during his own meeting with journalists in Sukkur, said: “Imran Khan is Hitler and is taking U-turns to avoid losses.”

Shah reportedly also remarked: “No Hitler, who was also a dictator, has ever been successful in history.”

Meanwhile, PML-N stalwart Khawaja Asif took the premier to task on Twitter: "Are you [planning on] invading Russia that you are recalling Hitler and Napolean? Do not look for justifications in the pages of history for your hypocrisy and opportunistic behaviour."

Journalist Zarrar Khuhro also questioned the historical reference, tweeting: "Are we invading Russia in the winter?"

Columnist Nadeem Farooq Paracha, in his signature tongue-in-cheek style, termed the PM's statements "fair enough" whilst also remarking: "I have a feeling the PM will take a U-turn on this statement as well. A U-turn on a statement about U-turns. That would be classic IK."