PM Shehbaz slams ‘disgusting smear campaign’ against army chief by PTI,

Allies’ huddle for action against those participating in anti-COAS campaign, questions conduct of courts, to move against those creating chaos,

In the wake of worsening political situation in the country, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned an urgent meeting of the coalition partners in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government today,

The PDM huddle has been convened at 2pm today at Prime Minister House in Islamabad.

The allied parties’ leaders will deliberate on the future course of action during the meeting. The high-level meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, also decided to summon a joint session of parliament on March 22 where important decisions will be taken to ensure state writ. The meeting called Imran Khan’s style of politics anarchic, and also raised questions on the behavior of courts. The meeting called Imran Khan’s style of politics anarchic, and also raised questions on the behavior of courts.

Laments Imran Khan damaging country and undermining armed forces and their leadership in his lust for power: Urges overseas Pakistanis to raise their voice against “foreign-funded” campaign and do not become part of dirty political game: Deplores Imran for violating constitution by dragging institutions into his “dirty” politics: Instructs interior minister to strictly deal with those running anti-institutions campaign: Warns of strict legal action against those fanning chaos in country,

Prime Minister has condemned in the strongest words the disgusting ‘smear campaign’ launched against Army Chief General Asim Munir at the behest of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan lamenting that the former premier has stooped to the unprecedented lows in his desperation for power and going to the extent of damaging the country and undermining our armed forces and their leadership, reported,

“The campaign against the army chief is intolerable and a continuation of the conspiracy against the institutions,” he said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). He described it as toxic politics and urged the Pakistanis living abroad to to raise their voices against the “foreign-funded campaign” and not become a part of such conspiracies.

The premier said it’s unfortunate that the PTI chairman was dragging state institutions and their heads into his dirty politics. Such an act, he said, was against the Constitution. He instructed the interior minister that those behind such anti-institution campaigns within the country should be sternly dealt with.

The meeting was also briefed on violence perpetrated by PTI workers in Lahore and Islamabad. The PTI activists who spread chaos were ‘rented goons’, they alleged. It was briefed about the revelations made during the investigation of the arrested persons. The statement condemned the attacks and violence on police and Rangers allegedly on the orders of Imran Khan, adding the law enforcers were executing court orders. It expressed alarm at the attack on state institutions and officials by mobs allegedly trained by banned organizations. “This animosity towards the state cannot be tolerated,” the statement read. It added that there were evidence of the violence, and action should be taken according to law.

The participants recommended action against those participating in the vile campaign against the army chief, and agreed to continue actions according to the Constitution and the law.It also condemned the campaign against foreign institutions, and decided to proceed as per law against such elements. It maintained that such behavior cannot be tolerated; this is not freedom of speech.