Smear campaign being started against me: Imran Khan

PTI chairman and ex-prime minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that his opponents have engaged companies to “prepare material” for the smear campaign against him.

He shared his views in an interview with actor Shaan Shahid on Hum News.

During the interview, the host questioned Imran Khan about marketing companies being used in politics and fifth-generation warfare.

“I had to deal with mafias, the largest one being the Sharif mafia […] they always attack on a personal level because they have engaged in corruption for the last 35 years.

When someone [points out ] their corruption, they attack the character of a person,” Imran said.

He said his former wife Jemima Goldsmith had also been targeted in the past and a campaign was waged against her accusing her of being part of the “Jewish lobby”.

The former prime minister said that the Sharifs were preparing to start a smear campaign against him after Eid.

“Now that Eid is over, you will see they are fully prepared for my character assassination. They have engaged companies that are preparing the material,” said the former prime minister.

He added that 60% of federal cabinet members were released on bail.

“The father (Shehbaz) is out on bail, along with the son (Hamza). Maryam is also released on bail and Nawaz Sharif was found guilty [while] his sons fled abroad. So what [other] defence will there be?”

He said that in a democracy they were obliged to respond to the allegations against them.

The chairman of the PTI claimed that rather than answering the corruption of billions of rupees, the Sharif would now focus on a smear campaign against him.

He added that the Sharifs also undertook additional preparations and “recordings” such as those of former chief justice Saqib Nisar of Pakistan and the late Justice Arshad Malik.

“This is mafia style. I just want the nation to understand that if you want to smear someone’s name, there are companies that can help you make it happen.”

He said that the PTI had announced its plan to kick off the long march to Islamabad by the end of this month owing to which the Sharifs wanted to vilify him among the masses.

“But they have done it before too.” This is no new thing.” he said.