ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif responded to the leaked audiotape and said it has exposed Imran Khan’s “hypocrisy and double standards”.
The prime minister was referring to leaked audio of a conversation purportedly between real estate tycoon Malik Riaz and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. In the leaked clip, Malik Riaz could be heard telling the PPP chairman that Imran wants a “patch-up” with him and that he has been receiving several messages.
Taking to his Twitter handle on Sunday, PM Shehbaz said, “The audiotape that surfaced recently exposes Imran Khan’s hypocrisy & double standards. Contrary to his claims, he sought NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) to save himself and his government.”
“The fake story of foreign conspiracy was manufactured after all his efforts failed. His lies stand exposed,” PM Shehbaz added.
The audio tape that surfaced recently exposes Imran Khan’s hypocrisy & double standards. Contrary to his claims, he sought NRO to save himself & his govt. The fake story of foreign conspiracy was manufactured after all his efforts failed. His lies stand exposed.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 29, 2022
Leaked audio
A day earlier, real estate tycoon Malik Riaz’s telephonic conversation with PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari was leaked in which Malik Riaz could be heard giving the ex-president a message from PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
In the brief conversation, Riaz can be heard telling Zardari that Imran had been sending him messages asking him to help mediate between the two political leaders.
“Today, he (Imran Khan) has sent too many messages,” the voice believed to be of the property tycoon told the former president, who in response replies: “It is now impossible.”
“It’s okay. I just wanted to bring this into your notice,” said Riaz’s voice. The audio’s date and time have not been confirmed as of yet.
Fake
PTI immediately declared the audio “fake”. The party’s spokesman Dr Shahbaz Gill tweeted that the audio recording was a “lie” and “far from reality”.
“A businessman and an opponent of Imran Khan are talking about things that have nothing to do with reality. Imran Khan does not require an NRO. Instead, all these people kept seeking an NRO (from Imran) which they didn’t get,” he said.
Gill further added: “This story is a lie…. at least, a strong script should have been written.”
Neither Malik Riaz nor senior PPP leaders have commented on the development. It is known that Malik Riaz had been playing the role of a mediator after submission of the no-confidence resolution against Imran Khan.
