The tape had been played to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, the minister said.
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The military denied Mushahidullah Khan’s claim and Sharif’s government said it was not aware of any such conspiracy.
The government is already facing under pressure as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has quit Parliament to protest against the operation in Karachi against outlaws – allegedly targeting MQM workers.
“Therefore, the government had no other option but to shift Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to some safe place. Both vehicles carried 25 Kalashnikovs each”, he said.
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asim Bajwa had also said late on Friday night in a tweet that “the story about any tape recording as being discussed in media is totally baseless, unfounded and farthest from the truth”. He said the government knew well that some ISI officials were part of a meeting in London.
The bid failed, he said, when the civilian Intelligence Bureau (IB) – which was tapping some of Islam’s telephone conversations – presented evidence of the plot to the Prime Minister, who then informed the army chief.
“On the contrary, if Mushahidullah Khan’s allegations are false, action should be initiated against him”, Shireen Mazari said. As per spokesperson, no such tape exists according to the prime minister and neither has Nawaz made anyone listen to such a tape.
Due to effective policies, Pervaiz Rashid said, global community was acknowledging services of Pakistan and paying tribute to it. “Though the parents will not be able to get back these loving martyred children, but bringing the terrorists to justice has given a sense of feeling to us and the parents that such criminal activities will Insha Allah soon be completely eliminated from Pakistan”, he added.
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Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid has poured cold water over any expectation of clarification, saying there was no need for the prime minister to summon the errant minister or ask for any explanation since the interview in question clearly showed that Mushahidullah had spoken irresponsibly.
