‘Betrayal of country’: Bilawal slams Imran for trying to ‘sabotage’ IMF deal

PPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has accused former prime minister Imran Khan of exploiting PTI-led governments in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to “sabotage” the IMF bailout programme amid devastation caused by floods.

In a series of tweet from his official handle on Monday, Bilawal said raging floods have killed over 1,500 people and affected 33 million people across the country.

“Pakistan is devastated by floods, 1,500+ people killed, 33 million affected, 4 provinces Pakhtunkhwa, south Punjab, Balochistan & Sindh. People have lost everything. Every Pakistani should be doing all they can to help their fellow citizens,” he wrote in a tweet.

He went on to say that former PM Imran chose this moment to exploit his governments in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to “sabotage our national economic interests!”.

“This is a betrayal of our country & our people. First he entered into deal with the IMF [and] then he almost pushed the country to default to save his PMship,” the PPP chief added.

Bilawal while referring to leaked audio clip in which former finance minister Shukat Tarin allegedly asked K-P Finance Minister Taimur Jhagra and Punjab Finance Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari to “tell the IMF that the commitment made to them cannot be fulfilled” amid heavy losses incurred due to floods.

Also read: PTI's Umar, Jhagra defend IMF letter, audio leak

“[..]K-P finance minister says as a ‘blackmailing tactic’ [while] his Punjab finance minister said this would ‘damage the state’. These instructions passed on by the one who left us on the verge of default,” said the foreign minister.

The PPP chairman said PTI Chairman Imran’s has been “caught corruptly abusing charity donations for his personal and political purposes and exposed in foreign funding case”.

In an attempt to avoid getting caught, Bilawal claimed Imran had been on a relentless campaign against every institution. “That he would sink so low now, was beyond even my expectations.”

“For us, it will always be; #PakistanKhappay. Forever and always.”