Pakistan rejects Imran Khan’s claim of US plot

Pakistan’s National Security Council, a body of top civil and military leaders, has rejected ousted prime minister Imran Khan’s accusations that United States had conspired to topple his government through a parliamentary vote of confidence.Khan, 69, who led the nuclear-armed South Asian country of 220mn people for three and a half years, had accused Washington of backing a conspiracy to remove him.The former premier had said that he visited Moscow against US advice.Washington denies the charge.Asad Majeed, former Pakistan ambassador to the United States who had written a cable to Islamabad about Washington’s take on Khan’s Moscow visit, briefed the civil and military leaders on a forum called National Security Committee (NSC).“The NSC after reviewing the contents of the communication, the assessment received, and the conclusion presented by the security agencies, concludes that there has been no conspiracy,” a statement from the office of new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said yesterday.It said the country’s premier spy agencies informed the NSC that they found no evidence to support any conspiracy theory.Khan’s Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI) party demanded a judicial probe into the matter.The ousted leader met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, the day Russian forces invaded neighbouring Ukraine.Khan initially blocked the no-confidence move, saying the NSC had endorsed the alleged conspiracy.Khan has aired his conspiracy allegations in three huge public rallies he has held since he was ousted.He has demanded snap elections.The next parliamentary election is due in 2023.