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Pakistan NSC rules out ‘foreign conspiracy’ theory in ousting Imran Khan

Pakistan NSC rules out ‘foreign conspiracy’ theory in ousting Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday ruled out evidence of “foreign conspiracy” to oust former prime minister Imran Khan at a meeting of the country’s high-powered National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Asad Majeed Khan, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, briefed the committee on the context and content of his last month’s telegram that carried the alleged US threat to Imran’s government.
The meeting, which was attended by the country’s top civilian and military leadership, reaffirmed the decisions of the last NSC meeting which was chaired by ousted PM Imran.
The last meeting had decided to lodge a formal protest with the US terming the language used by an American official Donald Lu with Pakistan’s envoy undiplomatic, but Friday’s meeting concluded that no evidence has been found to back Imran’s claim of a foreign conspiracy.
A statement issued by the PM’s office said the NSC, after examining the contents of the communication, was again informed by the security agencies that they have found no evidence of any conspiracy.
“Therefore, the NSC, after reviewing the contents of the communication, the assessment received, and the conclusions presented by the security agencies, concludes that there has been no foreign conspiracy,” the statement read.
Imran, however, claims that he was ousted from power through a conspiracy hatched by the US in connivance with Pakistani leaders of the then joint opposition. Ever since he was removed through a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, Imran has been calling the incumbent government “imported”.
The controversy of a “threat letter” had first emerged on March 27, when Imran brandished a paper at a public rally in Islamabad, claiming that it contained details of Pakistan ambassador’s meeting with Donald Lu in which the latter allegedly threatened Pakistan.
The US, Imran claimed, was annoyed with his “independent foreign policy” and visit to Moscow. Washington, however, had denied the allegations saying there was no truth in them. Pakistan’s military has also rejected the perception of a foreign conspiracy behind the no-trust motion in parliament that led to Khan’s removal from office.

Darshan Shah
the authorDarshan Shah