The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of audio leaks involving former federal finance minister Shaukat Tareen and incumbent finance ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In the said audio calls, the former finance minister of the previous Imran Khan-led federal government can be heard directing the finance ministers of Punjab and KP – where PTI is in power – not to become part of the IMF deal that the federal government had been negotiating with the international lender for the past many months.
A strong reaction was given by the PML-N right after the audio calls went viral on social media.
Addressing a hurriedly called press conference, PML-N Lahore president and former provincial minister Khawaja Imran Nazir said, “We demand the judiciary take suo motu notice in the national interest.”
Flanked by the party’s MPAs from Lahore, he said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has severely damaged the country’s economy and now they are trying to sabotage the IMF programme. “Pakistan would have become Sri Lanka had we not signed this programme. We are even facing public wrath but we saved Pakistan,” he claimed.
He was of the view that the PML-N isn’t justifying rampant inflation in the country but the reality is that Imran Khan had laid economic landmines. He added that the conversation of Shaukat Tareen with Laghari and Jhagra must be investigated.
Earlier, PML-N Punjab information secretary MPA Azma Bukhari alleged that there shouldn’t be any doubt now that the PTI is working on the enemy’s agenda. “It is an internal conspiracy. It is really sad that you want to make the country bankrupt that gave you everything,” said Azma.
“Shaukat Tareen spoke to Laghari and Jhagra on the directives of Imran Khan,” she said. Lashing out at former prime minister Imran Khan, she said that the PTI chairman wants a Sri Lanka-like situation in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, a resolution was moved in the Punjab Assembly demanding action against all those involved in the leaked tapes. “This house shows severe concern over the audio calls of former finance minister Shaukat Tareen and finance ministers of Punjab and KP related to the IMF program,” said the resolution moved by MPA Hina Pervaiz Butt.
“Shaukat Tareen is hatching a conspiracy against Pakistan under an organized plan. The government of Pakistan is holding negotiations with the IMF to support the economy but the PTI is derailing it through such tactics. “This house demands the Interior Ministry and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) DG investigate the audio calls,” the resolution added.
