ISLAMABAD: The US has flatly denied Prime Minister Imran Khan’s claims of a “foreign conspiracy” hatched in Washington to destabilise his administration with the support of opposition groups, claiming that these charges have “absolutely no substance.”
“Let me just say very clearly there is absolutely no truth to these accusations,” Deputy State Department Spokesperson Jalina Porter said during a news briefing on Friday in response to a question about PM Imran’s assertions that the US encouraged the no-confidence vote against his administration.
She went on to say that Washington was keeping an eye on the situation and that it respected and supported Pakistan’s constitutional process and rule of law.
“However, these charges are completely false,” she stated.
The 69-year-old prime minister had proclaimed in a speech to the nation a day before that he would not recognise a “imported administration” after his predicted fall by a no-confidence resolution; instead, he would go public and begin fighting a foreign-backed regime in the country.
Imran had urged the people to protest the “imported government” in a televised speech to the nation on Sunday night, vowing that he would not sit quietly by and would continue to fight foreign interference in Pakistan’s domestic affairs.
This was the first time the prime minister publicly discussed his future plans to address the people. Until now, he’s promised to turn the tables on the opposition parties at the last possible moment.
Imran had claimed he “accepted” the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s decision to reject the no-confidence resolution against the prime minister and the ensuing dissolution of the assembly.
He had, however, indicated his dissatisfaction with the decision to dismiss the possibility of a foreign conspiracy aimed at toppling his government.
He also expressed disappointment that the Supreme Court had not seen the proof of a foreign conspiracy.
The prime minister had stated that he wishes the court had at the very least ordered an investigation into the “threat letter” and taken suo motu notice of the “brazen horse-trading” that was taking place at the Centre and in Punjab.
“Even in banana republics, it [horse-trading] doesn’t happen.” No democracy in the world allows for such open legislator buying and selling. “I’m merely upset that the Supreme Court made no mention of horse trading,” Imran had added, adding that he had never seen anything like it in any Western democracy.
Imran had stated he wanted to relay the “cypher message” that Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US sent to Islamabad after meeting with US authorities. He had added, however, that he couldn’t since the message’s code would be revealed to the rest of the world.
