Security agencies have not found credible evidence on foreign conspiracy: source

By
Reuters
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Prime Minister Imran Khan address the National Assembly. — File/Radio Pakistan
Prime Minister Imran Khan address the National Assembly. — File/Radio Pakistan 

  • Official, who had attended the NSC meeting, says that security agencies had not come to same conclusion as PM Imran Khan. 
  • On March 27 in a public rally, PM Imran revealed that "foreign elements" are behind the no-confidence motion moved against his govt.
  • PM Imran and deputy speaker had said National Security Committee had confirmed a plot to overthrow him.


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's security agencies have not found credible evidence to confirm PM Imran Khan's allegation of a foreign conspiracy, an official with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be identified, told Reuters on Tuesday.

PM Imran and the deputy speaker had said Pakistan's National Security Committee, a top panel that groups civilian officials as well as the military and intelligence chiefs, had confirmed a plot to overthrow him.

However, the official, who is privy to such proceedings, told Reuters that the security agencies had not come to the same conclusion as the PM and had communicated their view to him.

On March 27 in a public rally, PM Imran revealed that "foreign elements" are behind the no-confidence motion moved against his government and said, "some of our own people" are being used in this regard.

Later, he named the United States to be behind the conspiracy — an allegation that the country has dismissed as baseless. 

Following the controversy, the National Security Committee (NSC) met on March 31 and decided Pakistan would issue a strong demarche to the country whose official communicated the "threat".

"The Committee decided that Pakistan will issue a strong demarche to the country in question both in Islamabad and in the country’s capital through proper channel in keeping with diplomatic norms," a statement issued from the PM Office said.

Following the meeting, On Sunday the National Assembly had to vote on the no-trust motion against the PM, but NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri ruled out the no-trust motion under article 5, subsequently, President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on the PM’s advice and ordered fresh polls in the country.

The ruling plunged the country into a political crisis and on the same day Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial took notice of the political situation in the country and said that "any orders and actions that Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly shall be subject to the order of this court."