Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, while throwing down the gauntlet to former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar, said on Tuesday that the ex-CJP had gone too far in former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s ‘enmity’.
Asif's comments came after an audio clip involving Nisar and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Khwaja Tariq Raheem leaked on Twitter, which the minister said caused him "great pain".
"Mr Saqib Nisar, I heard your audio, and it was very sad. You have gone too far in Nawaz Sharif’s enmity," he wrote on his Twitter handle.
میاں ثاقب صاحب آپ کی آڈیو سنی بہت دکھ ھوا آپ نواز شریف دشمنی میں بہت دور چلے گئے۔ آپ نے 14/15 سال قبل اپنے نواز و شیہباز شریف کے ساتھ 2گلے مجھ سے بیان کیے جو سراسر بے بنیاد ھیں میں میڈیا پہ حقیقت بیان کر سکتا ھوں۔آپ نے نواز شریف سے بدلہ لے لیا اسکو سزا سنائ ۔اب کتنی دیر اور اس…
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) April 25, 2023
The minister also claimed that Nisar made baseless statements about Nawaz and his brother, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 14 or 15 years ago, which he said he could refute in the media with the truth. He, however, did not elaborate on the statements any further.
Addressing Nisar directly, Asif said, "You have taken revenge from Nawaz Sharif and imposed punishment on him. How long will you continue to harbour this poison?"
Earlier, an audio clip allegedly featuring Saqib Nisar and Raheem discussing legal matters apparently of political significance surfaced on social media.
Read more: Audio leaks saga continues as clip featuring ex-CJP Nisar, PTI lawyer surfaces
After exchanging pleasantries in Punjabi, a voice purportedly of Nisar can be heard bringing a specific seven-member judgement to Raheem's attention.
Upon this, another voice allegedly of Tariq Raheem seeks a further explanation.
"It is suo motu number 4 of 2010," Nisar apparently responded, "Sir, it is a seven-member judgement reported on Supreme Court 2012 page 553."
The PTI lawyer can be heard responding that he will look into it.
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