The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf and Pakistan Army have reacted strongly to reports published in some newspapers about a meeting between party Chairman Imran Khan and US Ambassador Cameron Munter, which according to the news item, was facilitated by ISI chief Lt General Shuja Pasha. In a statement released on Monday, PTI Secretary General Dr Arif Alvi said the news item was totally fabricated and false and appeared to be an attempt to provide support to the false propaganda unleashed by the PML-N and its coterie that the PTI had the support of the establishment. “The allegation is an attempt to divert the attention of the people from the fast-declining popularity of the PML-N because of the failure of its government in Punjab and its anti-people policies that it practiced during its two tenures in the federal capital. Its failed rallies in Lahore and Faisalabad have driven it to desperation and it is venting its venom on the PTI,” he said. Alvi reiterated that such attempts would not dent Imran Khan’s growing popularity.
He said, “We are sending a strong letter to the Sunday Times to retract the falsehood, otherwise we reserve the right to claim damages in a court of law.” The Pakistani military also denied a British media report about Imran’s meeting with Munter in the presence of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha. A spokesman of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) strongly denied the news report. “It is a totally baseless and concocted story,” the spokesman said.