Army, govt 'on same page', demand end to falsehoods.

ISLAMABAD -- Hours after Imran Khan directly blamed government officials and an army officer for the attempt on his life, federal ministers and the military denied the allegations, calling them 'unacceptable and uncalled for', while demanding action against 'those responsible for defamation and false accusations against the institution and its officials'.

Earlier, Mr Khan had accused the prime minister, interior minister and a spy agency officer for hatching a plot to assassinate him and demanded their immediate removal.

In a late night statement, the military's media wing condemned the allegations and said: 'The baseless and irresponsible allegations by chairman PTI against the institution and particularly a senior army officer are absolutely unacceptable and uncalled for.'

ISPR added that the Pakistan Army was a professional and disciplined organisation with a robust internal accountability system for any unlawful acts committed by uniformed personnel.

Calling Mr Khan's allegations regrettable, the ISPR said honour and safety of its rank and file were being 'tarnished by vested interests'. 'The institution will safeguard its officers and soldiers no matter what.'

Earlier on Friday, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Interior Minister Rana Sanullah also lambasted Mr Khan's recriminations.

Ms Aurangzeb raised questions over Mr Khan's actions following the attack.

'Why did he not go to any hospital nearby after being hit by four bullets and wasted three precious hours to reach Lahore?' she asked. Mr Khan was taken to Lahore, around 123km southwest of Wazirabad where he was shot.

She also questioned why no government doctors and police were allowed to check or visit Mr Khan.

'We offer full cooperation of the federal government to investigate the incident,' adding that Mr Khan can call Scotland Yard, private investigators or anybody to probe the attack. 'But eventually you will have to appear in court so that the truth may come out.'

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