Imran Khan Stooping To 'Unprecedented lows': PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif (left0 and former prime minister Imran Khan. — AFP/File

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday attacked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Imran Khan for a "malicious smear campaign" to insult Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.

According to the Prime Minister's official statement, the campaign against the COAS is untenable and is a continuation of the conspiracy against the national institution.

Throwing more bricks at the PTI chief, the Prime Minister said, "This person Niazi [Imran Khan] has reached an unprecedented level in his desperation for power and is harming the country and harming our armed forces and leaders."

Khan, a former cricket star, served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022 when he was ousted in parliamentary elections. Since then, he has called early elections and held protests across the country to open the case.

Shehbaz, the prime minister's successor, rejected the request and said the election would be held later this year as planned.

Khan, 70, faces multiple charges, including failing to appear in court after a court order led to a failed attempt to arrest him on Tuesday.

The prime minister called on Pakistanis abroad to raise their voices against the "foreign-funded" campaign. He said he should not join the conspiracy when dirty political games are played by refugees.

According to the Prime Minister, Imran Khan violated the constitution by involving institutions and leaders in "dirty" politics.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also directed the Home Minister to deal strictly with those who run such defamation campaigns against the institution.

He also warned that strict legal action would be taken against the chaos and disorder emerging in the country.

Clashes between Khan's supporters and security forces have brought fresh political turmoil to Pakistan, which is in the midst of an economic crisis.

Khan said the powerful government and military were trying to prevent him from participating in the next election in November. If convicted in the case, Khan could be disqualified.

The government and the military deny this.

For the first time in the country's history, the campaign against the army chief appointed only by profession is only on the agenda of anti-Pakistan elements, he said.

Responding to Prime Minister Shehbaz's tweet, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that such defamatory remarks were meant to widen the political gap between the people and the army chief. managing Pak politics by helping ECP organize a peaceful organization," Fawad tweeted. open choice. "