NSC meeting finds no evidence of ‘foreign conspiracy’ against Imran’s govt
ISLAMABAD: The National Security Committee (NSC) held a meeting on Friday with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair to discuss the alleged ‘threat letter’ which former premier Imran Khan said was a plot to oust him
The meeting was attended by the the services chiefs and federal ministers. According to a statement, the NSC discussed the telegram from the Pakistan Embassy in Washington.
Former Pakistani ambassador to Washington Dr Asad Majeed Khan briefed the NSC on the context and content of the diplomatic cable that carried the alleged threat sent to the PTI government last month by US officials.
The NSC, after examining the contents of the communication, reaffirmed its decisions of the last NSC meeting. The NSC was informed by the premier security agencies that they have found no evidence of any conspiracy.
“Therefore, the NSC meeting after reviewing the contents of the communication, assessment received, and conclusions presented by the security agencies, concluded that there has no foreign conspiracy,” the statement added.
The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Information Minister Marritum Aurangzeb, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Nadeeem Raza, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar and other senior civil and military officers attended the meeting.
The Pakistani diplomat reached Islamabad and attended the NSC meeting convened by PM Shehbaz at the PM Office to discuss the “threat letter”.
Former premier Imran Khan, who was voted out through a no-confidence motion, had brandished a “threat letter” on March 27 at a public gathering before his ouster claiming that his government had been threatened by the US and the Opposition was involved in the conspiracy.
The PTI has claimed that the Imran Khan government was toppled because of the independent foreign policy and most recently due to the premier’s Russian visit.
Earlier, DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar had also rejected the perception of a foreign conspiracy behind the no-confidence motion.
Addressing a press conference on April 14, the military spokesperson had clarified that the word “conspiracy” was not used in the statement issued after a meeting of the NSC last month. He had said he cannot discuss what was discussed in the meeting but noted that the word “conspiracy” was not used.
The NSC meeting was called on March 31 by former prime minister Imran Khan to discuss the matter.. After being elected prime minister. Shehbaz Sharif had also said that the government will summon a meeting of the National Security Committee where the military leadership will brief the lawmakers.
