Imran Khan’s ‘detestable face’ had been revealed to the entire nation: PM Shehbaz
ISLAMABAD, Sep 30 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that the audio leak of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan had “shattered the narrative” that the latter was ousted from power through a foreign conspiracy. “Everything became clear after Wednesday’s audio leak,” he said, adding that Imran Khan’s “detestable face” had been revealed to the entire nation.
Addressing a ceremony after laying the foundation stone of the Bhara Kahu Bypass in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz Sharif went on to accuse the PTI chief of deceiving the nation by making false claims. “Till when will [your] lies survive … I don’t think there can be a more heinous crime,” he commented.
PM Shehbaz Sharif accused Imran Khan of asking his then-principal secretary to “hatch a conspiracy against Pakistan”. The premier went on to say that he had not seen a “more irresponsible person and a bigger liar” than Imran during his time in politics. “And this is something that needs to be lamented and calls for introspection,” he said.
After leading the cricket team to win the World Cup and making the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, nobody would have thought of Imran Khan as an “embodiment of lies” that he turned out to be after entering politics, he added. “He has lied day and night, damaging Pakistan.”
PM Shehbaz Sharif went on to say the entire nation was “ashamed” because of Imran Khan’s lies about a foreign conspiracy to oust his government.
By doing so, he continued, Imran has “put the honour of the entire nation at stake and brought shame to Pakistan”.
“For five to six months, he continued to claim that a conspiracy was hatched against his government,” he said, lambasting Imran for labeling the former opposition as “traitors”.
“And Imran even conspired to divide the country’s institutions,” PM Shehbaz Sharif said. “There are no two ways about it. But the worst conspiracy against Pakistan was him defaming the country’s politicians by labeling them as traitors.”
Everything became clear after Imran’s audio leak, he reiterated, regretting that the nation’s “five months were wasted” as the PTI peddled its foreign conspiracy narrative and “poisonous propaganda”. The premier went on to say that Imran had angered friendly countries.
“I have taken an oath under the Constitution so I cannot reveal this secret … but some friendly countries personally told me how arrogant he (Imran) had been and that damaged our ties,” PM Shehbaz Sharif said. “Moreover, Imran also angered other nations, but it will not be right to go into the details.”
The premier said it was pointed out to him during his trip to the US and at other instances that “we have taken a huge burden on ourselves, otherwise his (Imran’s) popularity was declining. “I told them I did it to save the state of Pakistan.”
Without naming anyone, he further said that Imran “had gone to a country and begged them for money”.
“But they told him to put his house in order first. He begged them to announce the release of funds so that he gains respect in his home country before being removed from office.”
The prime minister said even after these events unfolded, he was ready to “invite everyone to come and build Pakistan together”.
“Look beyond yourself and set aside [your] differences,” he urged Imran but went on to say that the PTI chief did not want Pakistan to progress. “You are conspiratorial,” he said.
On the occasion, PM Shehbaz Sharif was briefed about the modalities and execution of the Bahara Kahu project. It was highlighted that the Rs6 billion project of 5.4 kilometres had been finalised after a transparent bidding process.
The PM directed concerned authorities to ensure completion of the Bypass within four months and also emphasised to need to further reduce project costs.
The project on completion will provide a big relief to the people traveling toward Murree and Kashmir as the existing road faces massive congestion.
The Prime Minister directed National Logistics Cell to complete the project within three months instead of its earlier tentative time of four months. He directed that quality of the project should be ensured.
The Prime Minister said this project will facilitate the tourists from all over Pakistan and people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
He said last government ignored projects which were started by the government of Nawaz Sharif. He said project of metro bus service to airport was on halt but it was resumed by the incumbent government.