Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had been “shocked” at the UN general assembly in New York earlier this month when several world leaders had personally raised the former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan’s conduct, adding that the world leaders told him PTI chief was rude, liar and a ‘narcissist’.

“Some leaders told me in person about his personality,” the premier said in an interview with the British daily The Guardian, adding that the PTI chief ran on an anti-corruption manifesto to suit his own personal agenda.

PM Shehbaz spoke of the “damage” that Imran Khan had done to the country in both domestic and foreign affairs.

“Imran Khan was conducting the country’s affairs in a manner which can be only described as the most inexperienced, self-centered, egotistical, immature politician in the history of this country,” the premier said.

The premier accused the PTI chief of ruining the country’s economy saying that the policies of the former premier were based on ‘lies and cheat’.

The audio leaks allegedly captured Imran Khan discussing how to fabricate a conspiracy about a foreign threat, with him heard saying they would “play with the cable”.

PM Shehbaz said that the leaked audios were “an irrefutable endorsement that he [Khan] is the biggest liar on the face of the earth. I’m not saying this with a sense of glee but a sense of embarrassment and concern. My country’s image has been damaged hugely by these lies told out of mean personal interest.”

He said that the federal cabinet had approved a legal inquiry into the audio leaks. “Imran Khan has to be held accountable for all these conscious criminal acts,” the premier added.

“Never before was I concerned about our country’s future,” he said adding that Imran Khan had injected an infinite amount of poison in the society and made it hugely polarised as never before. “He is distorting facts and creating hate.”

Sharif also made it clear he would be reaffirming Pakistan’s close relationship with China, which reportedly suffered under Khan after he stalled the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He vowed to continue with the project, describing China as “one of the most trusted friends of Pakistan”.

“Make no mistake, CPEC is a project which is not only good for Pakistan’s wellbeing but for the whole region,” he said.

On the involvement of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in his government, he said that he consulted Nawaz. “He is my leader and my older brother, but he has given me completely free rein to make decisions.”