Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the says recent audio leaks regarding 'cipher' have exposed the true face of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan before the nation.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad flanked by federal ministers Marriyum Aurangzeb, Ahsan Iqbal, and Attaullah Tarar, the premier 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.
PM Shehbaz, 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 premier said.
Shehbaz Sharif said that the coalition government was trying to revive bit-by-bit the ties with other countries damaged by Imran Khan.
"It was the worst dishonesty and a game played with the nation’s confidence and hurt the national integrity.
This is unprecedented in country’s history," he remarked rubbishing Imran Khan’s allegation of his role behind the audio leak as earlier, his own audio leak had 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 wicked conspiracy stands exposed without any more ambiguity. For last four-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 (NSC), in its two leaks, categorically made it clear that the cipher had nothing to do with the conspiracy.
Speaking about the flood situation, PM Shehbaz said that the government has spent almost Rs100 billion for the relief and assistance of the flood affected people.
He said under BISP, Rs60 billion have already been spent. Billions of rupees have been spent for the provision of blankets, tents, food packages and other items to the flood victims.
The premier said China has provided ninety million dollars for the flood victims while other countries including the United States (US), Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Japan have also come forward for the assistance of the flood-affected people.
PM Shehbaz said that the 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 chief is trying to create hurdles in the way of assistance pouring in from abroad.
Responding to a question, PM Shehbaz said that Islamabad High Court (IHC) has given 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.
