PM condemns 'PTI's disgusting smear campaign' against COAS abroad

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Monday urged overseas Pakistanis not to support the 'vicious' conspiracy against the Pakistan Army and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir which he said was deserving of the strongest condemnation.

PM Shehbaz termed the "smear campaign" against the army chief a "continuation" of a conspiracy against the military, which he said was "unacceptable".

Accusing former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan of "damaging the country and undermining our armed forces and their leadership", PM Shehbaz stressed the need to reject his political rival's "agenda".

"Overseas patriotic Pakistanis should raise their voice against the foreign-funded campaign," the premier pleaded as he cautioned them against the "poisonous politics" in which they were being used as pawns.

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He urged them "not be part of this conspiracy" whereby Imran, he claimed, "is dragging state institutions and their heads in his dirty politics and breaching the constitution".

The PM also directed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to deal with the "miscreants running this vile campaign" in the country with an "iron fist".

"Strict legal action should be taken against those who instigate chaos, riots and rebellion in Pakistan," he stated adding that "to discredit the country's first army chief to be appointed on merit could only be the agenda of the enemies of the country".

"The nation stands by its institutions," he said, "united against evildoers."

Audio leak

In another tweet, PM Shehbaz condemned the "abusive language" used against PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz in an alleged audio leak attributed to former chief justice Saqib Nisar and PTI lawyer Khwaja Tariq Rahim.

"Society, especially women, should strongly condemn this speech and abusive thinking about women", he said adding that "only collective condemnation can stop this negative thinking in the society".

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Earlier today, an audio clip made rounds on social media where Nisar and Tariq purportedly be heard exchanging harsh words against Maryam Nawaz.

In the clip, Tariq is alleged to have offered Nisar to "give the woman that speaks so much a befitting response" or "hit her somehow". To this, Nisar is alleged to have said that he had the "courage to bear it out, but when the need arises, I will ask you to do something explosive on the side".

While the authenticity of the audio clip could not be confirmed, earlier this month, Nisar had claimed that his WhatsApp account was hacked and said he suspected that his data was being misused to twist facts for political purposes.