Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ata Tarar, recently made strong statements regarding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) founder, Imran Khan, following revelations made during a US Congressional hearing. According to a report by ARY News, Tarar stated that Imran Khan was labeled a “certified liar” during the hearing, exposing what Tarar referred to as the “cypher drama.”
During a news conference, Tarar criticized Imran Khan for orchestrating the cypher drama for his personal interests, stating, “The PTI chairman’s deceit and hypocrisy have been exposed before the whole world today as [US Assistant Secretary of State] Lu testified before the Congress and called the cypher a complete falsehood.”
Tarar also condemned PTI’s actions, including riots and protests outside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Headquarters, which he claimed were aimed at derailing Pakistan’s talks with the lender on the final review of the standby agreement.
According to ARY News, Tarar accused PTI of hiring lobbyists in the United States for a congressional hearing on the alleged regime change conspiracy, but he noted that Imran Khan ultimately faced repercussions and was branded a “certified liar.”
The minister highlighted that the US diplomat debunked the ‘cypher drama’ during the hearing and praised Pakistan’s general elections and efforts in women’s empowerment. However, Tarar criticized PTI for persisting in their false narrative regarding the cypher, which he claimed strained Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with other nations.
Tarar also criticized Imran Khan’s public allegations of a foreign conspiracy leading to his government’s ousting, which Tarar argued misled the nation and caused harm to the country’s reputation.
Following the US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu’s testimony, where he refuted Imran Khan’s cypher allegations as a “conspiracy theory, lie, and complete falsehood,” Tarar held a press conference to address the developments.
Lu, testifying before a US panel, stated, “Imran Khan’s cypher conspiracy theory is a lie and a complete falsehood,” adding that there was no accusation against the US government or himself personally in the alleged conspiracy. He emphasized the respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty and democratic processes.
In summary, Ata Tarar’s statements reflect the ongoing controversy surrounding Imran Khan’s allegations and the impact on Pakistan’s international relations, as well as the broader discussions about democracy and political narratives within the country.
