Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif slammed PTI leader Imran Khan on Thursday, calling him a “fraudster” and the “greatest liar in Pakistan’s history.”
During a news conference in Islamabad, the premier was accompanied by government officials Marriyum Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, and Ahsan Iqbal. He said that Imran and his followers were using social media to turn Pakistan’s benefactors against the government.
“I’m finally stating today that God has vindicated the entire opposition.” And Imran Khan, who lies all the time, is a liar […] he had alienated the nation and messed with it. He assaulted the army and attempted to divide it.”
“Subsequently, [former NA] deputy speaker Qasim Suri read a written statement in which he rejected the no-confidence motion on the basis of the conspiracy story […] without asking us,” Shehbaz said.
“Following that, [former NA deputy speaker] Qasim Suri read a prepared speech in which he rejected the no-confidence motion on the basis of the conspiracy tale […] without consulting with us,” Shehbaz claimed.
He went on to say that Imran appeared on television shortly after and proclaimed the dissolution of NA. “The president approved the summary twenty minutes later.”
This was the foundation of the plot that Imran has been participating in for the past five months, squandering the nation’s time, according to PM Shehbaz. “As a result of this game, Pakistan’s ties with the world’s major countries have been jeopardised.”
During this period, he remembered, “baseless claims” were levelled against various senior figures. “You may say whatever you want, but labelling someone a traitor […] is not acceptable.”
“On the floor of the NA, I said that if God forbid this conspiracy was proved against me or the coalition, then the nation has the right to hang me.”
But today, Shehbaz contended that links of the so-called conspiracy were connected to Imran and there was solid evidence of it.
Imran’s ‘true face’
In response to the recent leaks of audio recordings supposedly showing Imran and his former federal ministers, the prime minister stated that the disclosures had shown Imran’s truth but also underlined that the government had nothing to do with them.
“He is heard saying that this is a game […] they are heard suggesting that the meeting minutes should be produced according to their wishes.”
“The nation’s confidence was abused. “The country’s honour was undermined in such a way that no such precedent can be found in history […] this is nothing less than treason,” Shehbaz stated, saying Imran was playing a “serious game with the country.”
“Is there any doubt about who was behind the scheme now?”
The prime minister said that he was “here today to sensitise the nation” against the “biggest liar in the country”, alleging that Imran could sacrifice the country for his personal benefits.
Shehbaz said that two days after the PMO audio leaks, an ambassador from a friendly country came to meet him at the Prime Minister’s Office. “I had some discussion with him after which he highlighted that now no one would feel safe talking at the PMO.”
This, he continued, was not just a huge loss for the government but a loss that the nation would have to bear for decades to come.
‘Cipher can’t be decoded’
In response to a question, the premier said that the cipher — which Imran claims contains details of a foreign conspiracy to oust him from power — can’t be decoded by the government.
“If it is, then all the cables from all embassies can be leaked or stolen,” he reasoned.
Shehbaz reiterated that the prime minister’s copy of the cipher, also referred to as the master copy, had been missing. “Imran himself doesn’t know where it is.
“But his audio leaks have proven that there were four people behind the so-called conspiracy. What other evidence do you need,” he demanded.
The PM also revealed that the cabinet had decided to probe the audio leaks, adding that an investigation into them had already begun. “We will tell the nation [the findings] with complete transparency.”
