Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday slammed the incumbent government led by Shehbaz Sharif, calling their 10-month tenure at the helm "fascist".
"How can Shehbaz Sharif be so shameless, given his government's destruction in 10 months of our economy and democracy with brazen fascism, end of fundamental rights and rule of law; and allowing terrorism to spread under his watch?" Khan tweeted.
Khan's comments criticizing Sharif and his cabinet came after the latter called an all-party meeting to discuss security matters in the aftermath of the Peshawar suicide bombing that killed 100 people, including nearly 30 policemen.
Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) refused to participate in the meeting with spokesman Shaukat Yousafzai declaring how could the opposition political party participate in such a discussion when it was protesting against the government's policies at every level.
Notably, Prime Minister Sharif had urged all political parties in the country to come together to forge a united front against terrorism in the South Asian nation.
"My message to all political forces is one of unity against anti-Pakistan elements" before emphasizing that "we can fight our political fights later".
In response, PTI politician and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser said that members of his party were willing to join forces with the government for the sake of national unity but didn't do so, because Sharif and his ministers weren't serious.
"We are ready for national unity but the government must review its approach and show some seriousness. We are willing for all kinds of sacrifices, however, the government's seriousness is a prerequisite for it," Qaiser stated in a video message on Twitter.