PTI leader blames Pakistan for US drone attack on Zawahiri, links it to Imran Khan’s removal from office

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Dr Shireen Mazari on Tuesday seemed to suggest that Pakistan might have allowed the US to use its airspace to kill Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan in a drone attack on Monday.

Her statement came as senior military officials told The New York Times’ Pakistani correspondent Salman Masood that Pakistan’s airspace was not used in the attack on Zawahiri.

Mazari, however, linked the attack to former prime minister Imran Khan’s removal from office in April.

Taking to Twitter, she wrote, “Puzzling question: a US drone flew into Afghanistan from direction of Gulf region – assuming Pakistan hasn’t given bases yet (unless this govt has done so covertly) – but flew over which country’s airspace? Iran does not give any airspace rights to US military so was Pakistan’s airspace was used?’

In another tweet, she wrote, ‘Is that why PM Imran Khan had to be removed after his “Absolutely Not” to US demands? I always date US regime change conspiracy from June 2021. Enough evidence.”

Anchor and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan linked the drone strike to Election Commission of Pakiatan’s verdict against PTI, without realizing that al-Zawahiri was taken down on Monday while the electrical body announced its decision on Tuesday.

“How did American drone reach Kabul despite foreign funding verdict. This must be answered,” he said in an Urdu language tweet.