New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s mentioning of a secret letter, which he said was evidence to prove his claim that a conspiracy was being hatched in foreign capitals to remove him from power, has the entire nation hooked.
“Attempts are being made through foreign money to change the government in Pakistan. Our people are being used. Mostly inadvertently, but some people are using money against us. We know from what places attempts are being to pressure us. We have been threatened in writing but we will not compromise on national interest,” he said.
Calling out PM Khan for making a “huge charge” that he “owes it to the nation to lift the veil from this allegation for his own credibility”, senior journalist Nasim Zehra in an opinion article titled Not without evidence, wrote, “For now, the political moves indicate that the opposition may manage the magic number for the prime minister’s removal. Yet, as we have seen in Pakistan before, it’s not over till it’s over. And while which way the winds blow is anyone’s guess, to attach foreign conspiracies to this vote is completely unfounded”.
While few claimed that they had seen or accessed the letter, many took to Twitter to share their version of Khan’s secret letter.
Calling Imran Khan a “dramabaaz who plays mind games”, Najam Sethi, chief editor and founder of The Friday Times and Vanguard Books, wrote, “I have a copy of the “secret” letter that Imran Khan waved at his rally today. Actually, it’s in the public domain. (sic)”. Former Dawn journalist Abbas Nasir responded saying, “I read it on P1 of Dawn”.
I have a copy of the “secret” letter that Imran Khan waved at his rally today. Actually, it’s in the public domain. ? IK is a dramabaaz who plays “mind games”!
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) March 27, 2022
Baqir Sajjad, who covers Foreign Affairs for Dawn, asked, “There may be some truth abt foreign hand plotting against @ImranKhanPTI govt. But, specifically abt letter he referred to, my Q is that now he has gone public with threat, has govt/ @ForeignOfficePk summoned and demarched that country’s envoy over letter”.
Taking a shot at the PM’s allegation, another Twitter user wrote: “No one:
Imran Khan bringing a “secret letter” to a massive Islamabad rally, a letter that could potentially threaten Pakistan’s national security and one which he must keep a secret:”.
There may be some truth abt foreign hand plotting against @ImranKhanPTI govt. But, specifically abt letter he referred to, my Q is that now he has gone public with threat, has govt/ @ForeignOfficePk summoned and demarched that country's envoy over letter https://t.co/1e1hbpPCYq
— Baqir Sajjad (@baqirsajjad) March 28, 2022
No one:
Imran Khan bringing a "secret letter" to a massive Islamabad rally, a letter that could potentially threaten Pakistan's national security and one which he must keep a secret: pic.twitter.com/VSwnf7Or5q
— Shahjahan Khurram (@91shajji) March 27, 2022
Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz Sharif attacked the PM by sharing a meme of Mr Bean where the character is seen sealing several envelopes meant for none other than himself. She captioned the tweet with, “Threatening letter to Imran Khan!”.
عمران خان کو دھمکی آمیز خط ! pic.twitter.com/FRBbBNpqKL
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 28, 2022
While one user wrote, “Almost five to six anchors on few channels tried to dissect the secret letter for hours. Imran Khan is good at playing with nerves. He builds up something out of nothing”. Another user sarcastically shared the ‘content of the letter’, which said: “You better not make this letter public, or else we will destroy all the great achievements of your government, unleash Islamophobia like never before, kidnap DJ Butt and take away the 1992 Cricket World Cup. And we will also cancel your British visa”.
Almost five to six anchors on few channels tried to dissect the secret letter for hours.
Imran Khan is good at playing with nerves.
He builds up something out of nothing.— Asma Masroor (@AsmaMasroor) March 27, 2022
Copy of the “secret” letter which Imran Khan waived today pic.twitter.com/B4KqRnM8bq
— Sinan Khan (@sinanonboard) March 27, 2022