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Pakistan's Imran Khan facing no-confidence vote claims US interference
Khan had said on Sunday at a public rally in Islamabad that the opposition's no-confidence motion was the result of a "foreign conspiracy," but avoided naming a specific country, Kyodo News reported.
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Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan (3L) and President Arif Alvi (3R) watch Pakistan's Air Force fighter jets perform during the Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad on March 23, 2022.
(AFP/Ghulam Rasool )
P
akistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday accused the United States of attempting to influence political events in the country as he faces a vote of no confidence.
Khan had said on Sunday at a public rally in Islamabad that the opposition's no-confidence motion was the result of a "foreign conspiracy," but avoided naming a specific country, Kyodo News reported.
In Thursday's televised speech, Khan mentioned the United States as that country in what may have been a slip of the tongue.
Khan in the address said the move to oust him was a "foreign conspiracy" backed by a Western country that was unhappy with his visit last month to Moscow to meet Putin.
Khan was in Moscow and met with Putin the day Russian forces invaded neighbouring Ukraine.
Khan did not openly name the alleged conspiring country. He mentioned the United States before smilingly correcting it to "a foreign country".
He said his government possessed an "official document" that was evidence of the conspiracy.
"It (the document) says we will forgive Pakistan if Imran Khan loses this no-confidence vote. But if it fails Pakistan will have to face tough time," Khan said, quoted by Reuters.
Before his speech, Khan summoned a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting to discuss the document, which was described as "the formal communication of a senior official of a foreign country to Pakistan’s Ambassador in the said country in a formal meeting".
An official statement after the NSC meeting said the gathering expressed grave concern at the communication.
The committee concluded the communication amounted to "blatant interference" in Pakistan's internal affairs, the NSC statement said, adding, it decided Pakistan will issue a strong demarche to the country.
The allegation traces back to a US official reportedly telling Asad Majeed, Pakistan's envoy in Washington, that there could be serious implications for US-Pakistan relations if Khan survives the vote.
The envoy conveyed the message to Islamabad through a diplomatic cable, which the prime minister is now using to substantiate his claim of a foreign state seeking to dislodge his government.
Voting on the no-confidence motion against Khan is scheduled for Sunday. The prime minister's position is seen as weakened due to defections in his party and desertions by allies.
The National Security Committee, Pakistan's top civil military forum, denounced the US message as "undiplomatic" and "blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan."
It decided to lodge a protest with the United States on the issue.
