‘It is my voice’: Sheikh Rasheed confirms the authenticity of his audio leak

An audio call between former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and another man, Gul Zaman, has been leaked.

In the audio leak, it can be heard that two are talking about a “payment” being made to PML-N’s Mian Jaleel Ahmed Sharaqpuri.

Following the news, Zaman came forward with his side of the story. He said that Rasheed called him and started talking about some payment and Sharaqpuri. “I snubbed him and asked him right away,” he added.

He claimed he hasn’t met Sharaqpuri and Sharaqpuri also doesn’t know him. Gul Zaman said he has no clue why Rasheed said all that.

گل زمان نے بھی تصدیق کردی کہ شیخ رشید نے انہیں کال کرکے پیمنٹ کی بات کی۔pic.twitter.com/wlGU1KJQ3m

— UNewsTv.Com (@UNewsTv) July 17, 2022

Sheikh Rasheed in leaked audio: PMLN's MPA Jalil Sharaqpuri resigned because he was bribed and a huge payment made pic.twitter.com/CfOb22DLMB

— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) July 17, 2022

While talking to Samaa News, Sheikh Rasheed confirmed the authenticity of the leak. According to him, all of this was a joke and denied any payments being made.

شیخ رشید نے شرقپوری سے متعلق آڈیو کی تصدیق کر دی pic.twitter.com/TYGo4eEelR

— Mansoor Ali Khan (@_Mansoor_Ali) July 17, 2022

In a video message, he further clarified that Sharaqpuri is innocent and blamed the government for the leak. He said that the government has a problem with Sharaqpuri giving his resignation to Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

Sheikh Rasheed says his audio is genuine about Jalil Sherqpuri but blames @RanaSanaullahPK for leaking it pic.twitter.com/2qjBLmNdiZ

— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) July 17, 2022

Sharaqpuri said that it was a pre-planned audio leak. He said he doesn’t know Sheikh Rasheed much. He further added that Rasheed is Imran Khan’s enemy and is a fraud.

Trouble for PML-N: Mian Jaleel Ahmed Sharaqpuri resigns

PML-N Member of Punjab Assembly (MPA) Mian Jaleel Ahmed Sharaqpuri resigned from his seat on Saturday.

جلیل عباس شرقپوری نے پنجاب اسمبلی کی رکنیت سے استعفیٰ دے دیا pic.twitter.com/7guURzeiy8

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) July 16, 2022

The former MPA announced his decision along with Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry tweeted before Sharaqpuri’s resignation that some PML-N MPAs are soon going to tender their resignations.

PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have claimed that another sitting PML-N MPA Maulvi Ghayas ud Din will also resign. However, Ghayas ud Din has not issued any such statement and has denied these reports, reports Geo News.

According to Fawad Chaudhry, another PML-N MPA Kashif Mehmood has been disqualified. He claimed that now the PML-N and PPP have 173 MPAs including the independent candidates in the Punjab Assembly. PTI has also the support of 173 MPAs.

#ARY beeper pic.twitter.com/IinAHk4Gvr

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) July 16, 2022

Sharaqpuri’s resignation has put the PML-N in a tight spot as it is already in a neck-to-neck contest with PTI-PMLQ over the Chief Minister’s (CM) slot.

All eyes are set on today’s by-election results, which will decide the Punjab government’s fate.