Yousaf made the comments while appearing in flagship Naya Daur TV show Khabar Say Aagay. Yousaf said the recent audio leaks allegedly featuring conversations between senior functionaries and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan's talk of staging a final "dacoity" in Islamabad were all intertwined.
He said anybody who thought Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif had distanced himself from party affairs was dwelling in a fool's paradise. Yousaf said Nawaz was adamant about the people being extended relief before general elections. This is why, he said, PML-N heavyweight Ishaq Dar had staged a comeback.
The journalist said Imran's statement on Dar was representative of his growing frustration. He said the former financial czars return was essentially a litmus test. If everything goes well, he said, Nawaz will stage a comeback too.
The audio leaks, he said, sent a very poor impression to the international community. This can impact Pakistan's standing in the comity of nations.
Columnist Muzamal Suharwardy said whatever differences existed between the establishment and the PML-N in general and over the appointment of the COAS in particular had been resolved. He said Dar's return was representative of this. Citing examples, he spoke of how Dar had returned and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif was set to obtain a passport.
He said the PTI chairman's speech today was replete with disillusionment. Things are in flux at his end.
He said the audio leaks pointed manifested the incompetence of the nation's intelligence agencies. He said this held true irrespective of whether this was done internationally or locally.
Flagship Naya Daur TV show Khabar Say Aagay streams Monday to Saturday on 9pm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V520bcnjuUk