IK committed treason; inflicted “irreparable damage” to country’s reputation: PM Shehbaz Sharif says he did not leak any audio

ISLAMABAD

 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that by building a deceitful narrative of conspiracy against his government, Imran Khan committed a treason against Pakistan and its people and inflicted an irreparable damage to the country’s reputation.

The prime minister, while referring to an audio leak revealing a conversation between the then prime minister Imran Khan and ex-principal secretary Azam Khan about using the classified diplomatic cable for political purposes, said the episode had badly damaged Pakistan’s relations with the friendly countries.

He said sans the audio leak, the ambiguity could prevail for years but Allah blessed the nation by exposing Imran Khan’s “fraud, deceit and worst conspiracy” against Pakistan.

“The audio tells all. Is there any doubt yet as who hatched conspiracy? Who are the real conspirators? It was Imran Khan and his cronies,” the prime minister told a press conference here at the PM House.

He said the coalition government was trying to revive bit-by-bit the ties with other countries damaged by Imran Khan.

“It was the worst dishonesty, a game played with the nation’s confidence that hurt the nation’s integrity. This is unprecedented in country’s history,” he remarked rubbishing Imran Khan’s allegation of his role behind the audio leak. He said if he had been behind this, his own audio leak would not have surfaced.

Recalling the process of the vote of no-confidence against Imran Khan and the rejection of the motion by that time deputy speaker, the prime minister said Imran Khan and his party had wasted the nation’s time.

“That conspiracy stands exposed without any ambiguity. For last five years, I have been saying that he (Imran Khan) is the biggest liar doing all just to serve his own interests,” he commented.

He told the media that the National Security Committee, in its two meetings, categorically made it clear that the cipher had nothing to do with the conspiracy.

To a question, Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that the PM House’s copy of the cipher was missing.

Coming to the flood situation, the prime minister said the coalition government had spent Rs100 billion for relief of the flood-stricken population as relief items including tents, blanket and food items were also being supplied to the suffering people.

He said during the catastrophic flood situation too, Imran Khan played his negative role by maligning the government just to keep the donors from supporting the flood-hit people of Pakistan.

This is a disservice to Pakistan. This cold-hearted person did not think of the suffering humanity. He has no soft corner for the humanity,” the prime minister said and appreciated the efforts of his ministers and institutions including NDMA and PDMA for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit people.

Appreciating the UN Secretary-General for contesting the flood-hit Pakistan’s case before the world, the prime minister said China had provided relief aid worth $90 million, $61 million by the US besides the support pouring in from the UAE, Qatar, Japan and others.

He said the previous government also violated the agreement with the International Monetary Fund, though the government revived it successfully despite the confusion created by Imran Khan and his cronies.

He also lamented the PTI leader for targeting the Pakistan Army and attempting to create division within the institution ignoring their huge sacrifices against terrorism.

To a question, Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that the PM House’s copy of the cipher was missing.

He told the media that federal cabinet had decided to launch a probe into the cipher issue and the nation would be apprised of the findings.

Asked about the appointment of next army chief, the prime minister said there was a set criteria in the law which would be followed.

To another question, he said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Quaid Nawaz Sharif would return to Pakistan once his medical treatment was over.

Regarding the Tosha Khana case, the prime minister said the probe was underway. He assured that his government never believed in political victimization and the findings of the case would be shared with the public.

“I will not do anything contrary to facts. Institutions will do their own work. I will not interfere,” he assured.

He told the media that in the Foreign Funding Case, the Election Commission had quashed Imran Khan’s claims of being Sadiq and Ameen.

Asked as if the government intended to impose governor rule in Punjab to check much-talked about PTI’s long march, the prime minister said “I will not say anything premature.”

However, no one was allowed to take any illegal step.

Mentioning the “NAB-Niazi nexus” the prime minister said the IK government had not even spared the females including Maryam Nawaz and Faryal Talpur from the victimization.

To a question about the Maryam Nawaz’s departure for England, the prime minister said the court had given her a clean chit. It was not for the first time that she appeared before the court rather she had also been in the NAB detention.

However, he said Maryam Nawaz got relief from the court on the old NAB law having nothing to do with the amendments in the NAB law.

Commenting about the amendments in the NAB law, Shehbaz Sharif said the PTI government introduced amendments to facilitate 190 million pound scam, in which the cabinet’s consent was sought on an agenda in a closed envelope.

Besides mentioning the sugar and wheat scams, he said IK government gave NRO to his own sister Aleema Khan in the case of assets beyond means.

He said despite his tall claims of accountability, Imran Khan abolished the accountability commission in KP after it came up with a report exposing the corruption of the PTI ministers.

Asked to comment about the economic situation, the prime minister said the coalition government saved the country from default putting it political position at stake.

He said as the new finance minister had assumed charge, the rupee had started appreciating against the dollar.

He said the government was striving to control the inflation. The government deferred the fuel adjustment chares up to 300 units and would supply wheat seeds among the farmers in flood-affected areas.

Asked to comment on the huge profits earned by the private banks from the increased foreign exchange rate during April to June this year, he said he had ordered the inquiry and the new finance minister was actively pursuing it.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday categorically rebutted the rumours that he leaked the audio.

The PM stated this during a press conference held here in Islamabad and clarified himself by saying that if he was involved in leaking the audio then why he released his own audio?

He also said that his government was not involved in leaking any video. He also linked the leakage of different audios as a conspiracy from Imran Khan like the cypher conspiracy.

PM Shehbaz also highlighted the details of the cypher conspiracy from former premier Imran Khan and urged a treason case against him for such kind of act.

The fabric of the conspiracy has been found with Imran Khan, the PM said adding that this is the worst conspiracy against Pakistan and a betrayal of the nation.

The PM further stated that Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri presented the cypher issue in the House at the behest of Imran Khan.

And, within no time, Imran Khan announced the dissolving of the national assembly and moved a summary to the President of Pakistan and unfortunately, President Arif Alvi accepted the summary to dissolve the assembly within 20 minutes, PM added.

He said Maryam Nawaz Sharif was given a clean chit by the Supreme Court but this should be expressed to the nation who gave NRO to Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is on the verge of defaulting on loans while Imran Khan is stopping the world from helping the Pakistani flood victims.

The PM said after a great struggle and working hard day and night, they have succeeded in making the agreement with International Monitory Fund (IMF).

PM Shehbaz said recent audio leaks regarding Cipher have exposed the true face of PTI Chairman Imran Khan before the nation.

He said it was the PTI Chairman who played with the national interests and hurt the country’s relationship with the outside world which the present government is trying to repair and improve.

Shehbaz Sharif said the coalition government stands vindicated in its stance.

The PM strongly criticized PTI Chairman Imran Khan and regretted that baseless allegations were levelled against their constitutional struggle. He also made it clear that the government has no role in the audio leaks.

He said that by building a deceitful narrative of conspiracy against his government, Imran Khan committed treason against Pakistan and inflicted irreparable damage to the country’s reputation.

Referring to an audio leak revealing a conversation between the then prime minister Imran Khan and ex-principal secretary Azam Khan about using the classified diplomatic cable for political purposes, he said the episode had badly damaged Pakistan’s relations with the friendly countries.

PM Shehbaz said sans the audio leak, the ambiguity could prevail for years but Allah blessed the nation by exposing Imran Khan’s “fraud, deceit and worst conspiracy” against Pakistan.

PM Shehbaz said the government has spent almost Rs100 billion for the relief and assistance of the flood-affected people.

He said under BISP, sixty billion rupees have already been spent. Billions of rupees have been spent on the provision of blankets, tents, food packages and other items to the flood victims.

He said China has provided ninety million dollars for the flood victims while other countries including the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Japan have also come forward for the assistance of the flood-affected people.

He said federal and provincial governments as well as other institutions are strenuously working to extend relief to the flood victims. He however regretted that the PTI Chairman is trying to create hurdles in the way of assistance pouring in from abroad.

Responding to a question, the Prime Minister said Islamabad High Court has given a clean chit to Maryam Nawaz on merit. He said Maryam Nawaz appeared before the courts for four years and also faced imprisonment with Nawaz Sharif.