PTI’s “disgusting” smear campaign against COAS deserves strongest condemnation: PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: The strongest condemnation should be given, said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, for the “disgusting” smear campaign the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) launched against Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir at Imran Niazi’s urging. Imran Niazi, according to the prime minister, was stooping to unprecedented lows in his lust for power and going so far as to harm the nation and undermine its armed forces and their leadership. According to a press release from the PM Office, the campaign against the COAS was intolerable and the continuation of a plot against the national institutions.

The prime minister urged overseas Pakistanis to raise their voice against the “foreign-funded” campaign. He said as the dirty political game was being played through the expatriates, they should not become part of the conspiracy.

He said Imran Khan was violating the constitution by dragging the institutions and their leadership into his “dirty” politics. The prime minister also instructed the interior minister to strictly deal with those running such a smear campaign against the institutions.

He also warned of strict legal action against those fanning chaos and subversion in the country. A campaign against an army chief appointed purely on merit for the first time in the country’s history could only be an agenda of the anti-Pakistan elements, he added.

“The whole nation stands by its institutions and is united against miscreants,” the prime minister remarked.