The audio’s date and time have not been confirmed as of yet, but Riaz could be heard saying that Khan has requested him to mediate between the two political leaders….reports Asian Lite News
Reacting to the leaked audio of a conversation purportedly between real estate tycoon Malik Riaz and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that the audiotape has exposed Khan’s hypocrisy and double standards.
Taking to his Twitter handle, PM Shehbaz Sharif said, “The audiotape that surfaced recently exposes Imran Khan’s hypocrisy & double standards.”
A day earlier, real estate tycoon Malik Riaz’s telephonic conversation with PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari was leaked, according to Geo News. In it, Malik Riaz could be heard giving the ex-president a message from PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The audio’s date and time have not been confirmed as of yet, but Riaz could be heard saying that Khan has requested him to mediate between the two political leaders.
Criticising the PTI chairman, the Prime Minister said, “Contrary to his claims, he sought [an] NRO to save himself & his govt.”
Moving onto the matter of the diplomatic cable, Shehbaz said, “The fake story of [a] foreign conspiracy was manufactured after all his efforts failed. His lies stand exposed.”
Though the PTI immediately declared the audio “fake”, the PPP leadership remained non-committal, while a number of party leaders said it “seemed genuine”, Dawn reported.
In the almost 32-second conversation, the date and time of which is not confirmed, Riaz can be heard telling Zardari that Khan had been sending him messages asking him to help “patch up” with the PPP.
“Today, he (Imran Khan) has sent too many messages,” the voice believed to be of Riaz who told the former Pak president, who in response says: “It is impossible now.”
Onus on institutions: Imran
Imran Khan has said the onus of saving Pakistan from destruction lies on the state institutions.
He once again indirectly criticised the military establishment — which he terms and refers to as “Neutrals”, as well as the judiciary that has previously been criticised by Khan for playing party to his ouster.
Khan had claimed that the ouster was was done through a US-led conspiracy of a regime change.
“The country is heading towards destruction and it is not only my responsibility but of the institutions and the entire nation to stop this,” he said while addressing a press conference in Peshawar, provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Taking a jibe at the military establishment, Khan said “those who installed thieves in power would be held responsible for the loss incurred by the country”. (with inputs from Hamza Ameer)
