Sanaullah claims Imran being ‘used’ to defame Pakistan internationally

Amid rumours that former prime minister Imran Khan was hiring lawyer of Salman Rushdie as his legal counsel, Rana Sanaullah, the President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab, has questioned the need to take Pakistan to international court, saying that such steps are taken by the enemies of the country.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, he went on to assert that such actions were typically undertaken by the country's adversaries and their collaborators, characterising them as reprehensible.

Sanaullah said that those who had advocated for the repatriation and rehabilitation of terrorists were now charting a new course for these militants.

Read more: PTI denies hiring Rushdie’s lawyer

According to the former minister, those responsible for bringing Imran Khan to power were now making efforts to shield him.

“First, he was made a hero, received foreign funding, was brought to power and after bringing him to power destroyed Pakistan’s economy and foreign relations. Inflation caused a civil war-like situation.”

“Initially, he was elevated to a hero's status, received foreign funding and brought to power. However, once in power, his tenure witnessed the deterioration of Pakistan's economy and foreign relations, with rampant inflation leading to a state of unrest akin to civil conflict,” he added.

PML-N leader further said that by taking Pakistan to international courts, those infringing upon the rights of Kashmiris and Palestinians had found satisfaction, insinuating that external forces were exploiting Khan to tarnish Pakistan's reputation internationally.

Read more: Court allows Imran to talk to his sons over phone

The statement came a day after another PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar accused the former prime minister of hiring lawyer of Salman Rushdie as his legal counsel.

He alleged that Imran Khan had appointed lawyer Geoffrey Robertson to represent him in international court, claiming that the PTI chairman was approaching international court against his own country.

However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has vehemently denied allegations of appointing Rushdie's lawyer as Imran's legal counsel.

A PTI spokesperson criticised “misleading” information circulating regarding a foreign law firm and clarified that there is no truth to such claims nor has any such thought had the backing of the party chief.

He said the PTI chief has been targeted with over 180 false and fabricated cases filed during the past 16 months. The spokesperson further said that a former prime minister of Pakistan and his party, PTI, which according to him is the largest and most popular political party in Pakistan, were being subjected to worst form of revenge in the nation's history.