PTI dissident Aleem Khan’s recent presser has caused quite the storm in Pakistan as he made heavy accusations against PTI. Ever since, Aleem Khan is among the top Twitter trends in Pakistan.
During his press conference, Aleem Khan criticized PM Khan over a number of issues ranging from the National Accountability Bureau “hounding” him to his insistence on retaining Usman Buzdar as the chief minister and then the nomination of PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi as the new Punjab CM.
Important to note, Aleem Khan used to be a very close aide of PM Khan. However, after his decision to side with the Opposition, he has become very critical of PTI. In his tirade, Aleem Khan accused the premier of being insincere to the nation.
Furthermore, Aleem Khan said he met the US ambassador with Imran Khan at Bani Gala. “Were we traitors?” Aleem asked. “Why did you meet the EU ambassador and the US envoy with me at your place, and were you not a traitor for doing so?” the former minister asked Khan who now holds the Prime Minister’s Office until the appointment of a caretaker prime minister.
Read more: PML-Q against Aleem Khan as CM Punjab?
PTI’s response
Soon after, PTI spokesperson Shahbaz Gill responded to Aleem’s press conference and refuted his claims regarding the prime minister. In response to Aleem’s hard-hitting press conference, said he was “saddened” after witnessing the ex-senior minister’s grievances.
“I will respond to Aleem on behalf of the prime minister: You joined PTI without any ulterior motive. Aleem Khan should have expressed such reservations when he was part of the PTI.”
“Aleem Khan’s business interests clashed with PTI’s manifesto several times,” he said.
Shahbaz Gill(@SHABAZGIL) replies to Aleem Khan: pic.twitter.com/wJw0l2da7w
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 4, 2022
Similarly, former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said he was “deeply anguished” by Aleem’s press conference.
He said Aleem’s grievances were from the PTI government’s second year and would have held weight at that time but it was “inappropriate” to raise them now.
علیم خان صاحب کی پریس کانفرنس پر سخت افسوس ہوا، جب آپ کسے کے قریب رہے ہوں اور اختلافات ہو جائیں تو گفتگو میں تہمتیں آپ کی اپنی عزت کم کرتی ہیں،آپ کے تمام گلے دوسرے سال کے ہیں جب حکومت تھی اس وقت بات ہوتی تو کوئ وزن بھی تھا اس وقت الزامات اور رکیک حملے نامناسب ہیں
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 4, 2022
Sindh Governor Imran Ismail too hit back at Aleem Khan. Taking to Twitter, the governor said, “I have known Imran Khan for 30 yrs. You [Aleem] and I both know he’s an honest man with pure intentions for country & nation for whom he sacrificed a life of comfort blessed by Allah SWT.”
Moreover, he said Aleem’s comments about Imran Khan’s family are below dignity.
“Leveling/implying financial allegations without any evidence at all and that too while standing with the son of a corrupt ex-CM is astonishing,” Imran Ismail tweeted.
To clarify, Aleem Khan had accused Bushra Bibi’s friend Farah of taking a lot of bribes and being involved in transfers and postings of bureaucrats in Punjab.
Read more: Accountability for all: Aleem Khan sent to jail
Ur comments on @imrankhanpti family are below dignity. His wife is a God fearing housewife who has no role in his politics.
Leveling/implying financial allegations without any evidence at all & that too while standing with the son of a corrupt ex-CM is astonishing.
— Imran Ismail (@ImranIsmailPTI) April 4, 2022
Twitter not holding back
Aleem Khan’s explosive press conference resulted in accusations of corruption being made against him. The Vice-Chairman of Lahore Development Authority revealed that Aleem Khan requested construction on the riverbed multiple times despite it being against the law.
دریائے راوی کے بہاؤ کے راستے میں کسی بھی قسم کی تعمیرات غیر قانونی ہیں اور علیم خان صاحب وہاں 300 ایکڑ رقبے پر سوسائٹی کو مزید پھیلانا چاہتے تھے جس سے شہریوں کا جانی و مالی نقصان ہو سکتا تھا. قانون کے تحت انہیں وہاں تعمیرات کی اجازت دینا ممکن نہیں تھا.
— S.M. Imran (@SMImranPK) April 4, 2022
Moreover, there are claims that Aleem Khan never met the US official at Bani Gala.
Aleem Khan spent all these years in the position of “senior minister”. As soon as Imran Khan went in a difficulty, he is the first to leave the ship.
And no Aleem Khan, you didn’t meet US Counsel General at IK’s home. You met him in Sept ‘21, and then resigned in November 🤔
— Virk Shahzaib (@VirkSh786) April 4, 2022
Abdul Aleem Khan :
Met US Counsel General:
20 Sep,2021
Resigned as Provincial Minister:
26 Nov , 2021
Later announced his own group and backstabbed PMIK.
In the world full of JKTs and Aleem Khans be like Usman Buzdar pic.twitter.com/RsjHfyeZ0P
— MNA (@Engr_Naveed111) April 4, 2022
Separately, an alleged audio clip of Aleem Khan is going viral on social media. In the clip, Aleem Khan allegedly accuses Prime Minister Imran Khan of removing a former head of the country’s premier spy agency for exposing the corruption of his wife, Bushra Bibi.
Imran Khan financier and PTI leader Aleem Khan’s leaked audio reveals shocking levels of corruption and the beneficiaries including a top official’s transfer and the jewellery set pic.twitter.com/LvSONJfJa1
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) April 4, 2022