On Saturday, a purported audio leak showing Maxine Waters, a US lawmaker, and Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), surfaced on the internet.
The former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan was requesting the top US lawmaker for assistance in the recording of the supposed Zoom conference.
Khan stated that he was the most popular leader in Pakistan at the beginning of the audio that was leaked, adding that 99% of Pakistanis wanted him back in office.
The PTI chief can also be allegedly heard blaming the former army chief for the ouster of his government. He also claimed that the economic performance of his government was the best in the history of Pakistan. “I just want you to raise your voice in my favor,” the PTI chief can allegedly be heard as saying.
“I received three bullets in one assassination attempt. My government was removed by ex-army chief army [General Qamar Javed Bajwa] because the military establishment is very powerful here.”
“He conspired with people who are in power currently and toppled my government,” he alleged in the leaked conversation.
Khan added that his party was facing the “worst crackdown” which, according to him, no Democratic party had ever faced in the country’s history.
While requesting Congresswoman Waters to issue a statement in his party’s favor, Khan said: “We would appreciate here because it goes a long way when someone like you Maxine gave a statement.”
“All we want is just the rule of law and Constitution and fundamental rights. We just want a statement highlighting [crackdown] and that would really help us when someone like you Maxine speaks up it makes a lot of waves,” he added.
Also read: Imran Khan condemns attacks on military installations on May 9
A day earlier, former national security adviser (NSA) to United States ex-president Donald Trump, John Bolton, held a telephone conversation with Imran Khan as the country reels under political crisis.
Senior PTI US leader Atif Khan confirmed the development on Friday, stating: “Former UN Ambassador under Bush Administration and National Security Advisor under Trump Administration John Bolton had a phone call with Chairman Imran Khan today.”
Earlier this week, Bolton had expressed concerns over the ongoing political uncertainty in the country triggered by the arrest of Imran Khan on May 9.
“The US has critical interests in Pakistan. Continued instability and violence are not in anyone’s interests. The treatment of Pakistan’s former premier Imran Khan hinders relations and raises tensions,” he tweeted.
