Imran's 'lust' for power 'imperiled' Pakistan's foreign policy: PM

Shehbaz says PTI chief's 'hypocrisy knows no bounds'

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday lashed out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and said his “lies and lust for power have imperiled Pakistan's vital foreign policy interests”.

The premier took to Twitter to launch a tirade against the former prime minister and said “his hypocrisy knows no bounds”.

“From accusing the United States of toppling his government to now wooing the US to mend fences, Imran Niazi's hypocrisy knows no bounds,” the PM stated.

From accusing the United States of toppling his government to now wooing the US to mend fences, Imran Niazi's hypocrisy knows no bounds. In the process, his lies & lust for power have imperiled Pakistan's vital foreign policy interests.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 13, 2023

The statement by Shehbaz comes days after US Congressman Brad Sherman shared a letter that he has written to Secretary of State Antony Blinken over "democracy in Pakistan", and more specifically, the alleged "political victimisation" of the PTI.

Read IHC expects PM will not make content of 'threat letter' public

Moreover, earlier in March, the Democratic party congressman had released a video message and urged the US administration to support democracy and human rights in the country; sounding an alarm over what he said, the “alleged custodial torture and sexual abuse of political figures” such as PTI leaders Shahbaz Gill and Azam Swati.

Foreign conspiracy narrative

In April 2022, Imran had sent the Foreign Office cypher to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, claiming that a foreign country had sent a threatening message through Pakistan’s envoy.

However, a few months later, the deposed premier took a U-turn on his “foreign conspiracy narrative” wherein he had accused the US of engineering his ouster from power by supporting the then opposition’s no-confidence motion.

In an interview with Financial Times, Imran had signalled a desire to work with Washington saying he wants to mend relations with the US despite accusing it of treating Pakistan as a ‘slave’.

The PTI chairman had said he no longer “blamed” the US and wants a “dignified” relationship if re-elected.