PTI has lashed out at Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif for accusing Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan of conspiring to harm Pakistan’s national interest.
Earlier, the second part of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s audio clip was released on the US cipher featuring PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Asad Umar, along with then aide Azam Khan.
While reacting to the second part of Imran Khan’s leaked audio, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif heavily criticized the former premier and accused him of hypocrisy.
Read more: Part two of Imran Khan’s audio on US cipher leaked
“Let the gravity of this sink in: a former Prime Minister conspired with his aides to twist a routine diplomatic cipher for his selfish political motives knowing well this would harm Pakistan’s national interest. Imran Khan had no qualms about damaging Pakistan while sitting in the Prime Minister’s office. If hypocrisy had a face,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted.
Let the gravity of this sink in: a former PM conspired with his aides to twist a routine diplomatic cypher for his selfish political motives knowing well this would harm Pak national interest. IK had no qualms damaging Pakistan while sitting in PM off. If hypocrisy had a face…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 30, 2022
PTI hits back
Needless to say, the harsh words did not sit well with PTI leaders who hit back at the Prime Minister to defend their Chairman Imran Khan.
PTI leader and former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, not holding back, responded in a series of tweets. She then explained why Shehbaz Sharif’s accusations were false.
“Cipher starts by wrongly accusing Imran Khan of making a solo decision to go to Russia. How is it routine for the US to make such a false accusation and who from within State fed this info? 2. Cypher gave a threat: If prime minister Imran Khan survives VoNC “he will be isolated from the US and Europe”. 3. However if “Vote of No Confidence succeeds all will be forgiven.” They knew of VoNC before it was tabled!” Shireen Mazari said.
U foolish CrimeMinister let the words sink in that were used in the Cypher or better still release the Cypher to the nation so they can assess if it is "routine". 1. Cypher starts by wrongly accusing PMIK of making solo decision to go to Russia. How is it routine for US to make https://t.co/F3IOYVuDl6
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) October 1, 2022
“The Service Chiefs plus the entire National Security Committee admitted the cipher was a threat so read the minutes of the meeting or perhaps these Chiefs could clarify the matter for you or DG ISPR. Also, if routine, then why was the cipher hidden from the foreign minister and prime minister? To avoid truth did your office now make cipher go missing,” she further added.
To clarify, the federal cabinet was given a briefing on the issue of diplomatic cipher, during which it was revealed that the copy of diplomatic cipher in question was missing from the PM House record which is a sheer violation of the Official Secret Act.
Read more: Watch: Imran Khan appears before female judge’s court to apologize
“Maybe with you, we Pakistanis with beggars mindset, it is a nonissue to be threatened by a foreign power and told that we must do what is dictated to us. For those with any self-respect and pride in our nation, it is an affront which cannot and should not be tolerated,” PTI’s Asad Umar also tweeted.
Maybe with your, we Pakistani's are beggars mindset it is a non issue to be threatened by a foreign power and told that we must do what is dictated to us. For those with any self respect and pride in our nation, it is an affront which cannot and should not be tolerated. https://t.co/UzhmOQqsNu
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) October 1, 2022