ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) has termed the release of the transcript of the telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and US president-elect Donald Trump against “diplomatic norms” and a “desperate attempt by the prime minister to rescue himself from the Panamagate scam”.

The PTI leaders, including chairman Imran Khan, in their news conference and through social media posts have termed the release of the contents of Mr Sharif’s telephonic conversation with Mr Trump embarrassing for the country.

Talking to reporters outside his Banigala residence here on Thursday, PTI chief Imran Khan said that even the new US president-elect would not be able to save Mr Sharif from the Panamagate scam.

Mr Khan said that the prime minister was destined to face consequences of corruption and money-laundering and that he would not be able to save his skin, even if he managed to bring a letter from Mr Trump.

Mr Khan made the comments with reference to a letter of a Qatari prince, which the Sharif family members had submitted to the Supreme Court.

He said that the Supreme Court had already thrown away the letter of the Qatari prince.

Earlier, Mr Khan through his Twitter account welcomed the telephonic contact between Mr Sharif and the US president-elect, but said that Mr Trump would not be there to save Mr Sharif from the Panamagate scam.

“Good news is Trump spoke to Nawaz Sharif. Bad news for NS is this won’t save him from Panama scandal — not even if a Trump letter arrived!” reads Mr Khan’s tweet.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016