Tarin's Audio Tapes Expose PTI Plans To Damage IMF Deal.

ISLAMABAD -- The two audios of former finance minister Senator Shaukat Tarin, leaked on Monday, have apparentAly exposed opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-InAsaf's plans to scuttle the coalition government's deal with the InternaAtional Monetary Fund (IMF) for revival of PakiAstan's Extended Fund FaAcility programme.

Two controversial leaked audios having detailed conversation of PTI government's ex-fiAnance minister Tarin with the provincial minAisters of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) went viral on soAcial media and surfaced on TV channels hours before the crucial meetAing of executive board of the IMF that had to met to consider the bailout package for Pakistan.In the conversations Tarin is directing both the fiAnance ministers of Punjab and KP to tell the federal governAment that they would not be able to commit the provincial budgets surplus due to floods - a prerequisite of the IMF to approve the bailout package for Pakistan. The PTI acknowlAedged the authenticity of the leaked audio but defended the conversation saying there was nothing wrong in it as Tarin was only advising the provinAcial ministers which was necAessarily in the wake of rain-inAduced floods that have wreaked havoc countrywide. PTI SecreAtary General Asad Umar and KP Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra addressing the press conference said that the advice was necessary to renegotiate with the international lenders due to the devastation caused by floods. However, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry talking to reAporters said that the leaked auAdios were not in its actual form and have allegedly been comAposed by joining different parts of the conversation. He underAlined that taping of phones was illegal.

In the first audio clip, Tarin can be heard giving instructions to Punjab Finance Minister Mohsin Leghari to tell the fedAeral government that he would not be able to honour the earliAer commitments made with the IMF for...