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The letter that proves foreign interference to remove PM Imran Khan

So it means IK has to do nothing nor the public and we will sit and see what the thugs and criminals decide about our future. Even if someone has iota of self respect and cares about this country they will not accept these thugs.

I think this poster would love it if Imran Khan goes quietly and let's the the status quo continue.
 
ISLAMABAD: UK Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey on Wednesday described former premier Imran Khan’s allegations of foreign conspiracy as “fanciful” as he stressed that his removal through a no-trust move was Pakistan’s domestic affair.

The British minister’s statement came on a day when PTI chief Imran led his supporters to Islamabad seeking early elections and dissolution of assemblies.

Imran was ousted from power last month and since then he has been going places, building pressure on the coalition government to announce a date for the next elections as he called the current set-up “imposed from outside”.

“Well, with all respect to your former prime minister [Imran Khan] and, there is a great deal of respect from the UK government for him, I'm afraid that's simply not the case,” the UK armed forces minister told a group of journalists here when asked whether or not the UK had endorsed Imran’s allegations of a “foreign conspiracy”.

“What is happening in Pakistan at the moment politically is entirely the consequence of [the country’s] domestic politics, and any suggestion that there is somehow some sort of outside interference is utterly fanciful,” he added.

“It is domestic politics that are causing what is going on in Islamabad right now, and nothing more, nothing less,” he said as supporters of Imran descended into the federal capital.

The UK armed forces minister is on a maiden trip to Pakistan and met senior civil and military authorities including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Heappey said he had held “great discussions” with Pakistani authorities on expanding cooperation between the two countries.

“I think I’m here for two reasons principally … it’s important to keep up relations. Pakistan is a country with whom the UK has an enormous shared history and you are a key strategic partner of ours and a really important part of what we are trying to do in the world now.”

Heappey added that the second thing was that he was the minister in the UK government responsible for bringing all of its interpreters “who work so amazingly with us in Afghanistan [and] out of Afghanistan to the UK”.

“Your government has been amazingly helpful actually in helping us in that endeavor. And it matters enormously to the British public has a real sense that there's a sort of debt of honour that we owe.”

On Pakistan’s stance on the Ukrainian conflict, he said the UK was certainly disappointed over the visit of former premier Imran to Russia at a time when President Vladimir Putin was ready to invade that country.

The minister said the UK certainly did not want Pakistan to maintain “neutrality” on the conflict, but added that it respected Islamabad’s decision.

“I think the UK has to respect that your governments are balancing relationships in difficult neighbourhoods and so it's not my job to lecture or to hector your government into a position, but I was listened to, I'm confident that deep down we share the same values and frankly that's what matters most.”

On the Kashmir dispute, he said the UK government had a longstanding view that India and Pakistan were both key members of the Commonwealth with whom his country had a long-standing relationship.

“And we really, really, really don't want to have to choose between the two. And I don't think we see any reason to choose between the two. Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and fundamentally it is for India and Pakistan to resolve. Now, if the UK as a friend of both India and Pakistan has a role in that, then that's something for India and Pakistan to invite us into a due course. But it's not for me to turn up from London and try to give you an answer to a problem that I frankly don't understand anywhere near well enough to try and tell you how to solve.”

Express Tribune
 
ISLAMABAD: Russia’s ambassador to Pakistan Danila Ganich has revealed that the visit to Moscow was the reason for the fall of Imran Khan’s government.

In an interview with a private news channel, Russian Ambassador Danila Ganich made big revelation about the fall of PTI‘s government and said the presence of Imran Khan in Moscow and the invasion of Ukraine is a coincidence. “Imran Khan is basically an honest man and he wants the betterment of his people”.

Asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illness, Danila Ganich said: “President Putin is doing well and doing his job. I never believe in what Western media reports about Russia.

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, Ganich said that Russia was concerned about the movement of NATO on their border and termed it the reason for war in Ukraine.

He said that Ukraine had announced its accession to NATO, Ukraine’s accession to NATO was an attack on Russia’s sovereignty.

Earlier, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Karachi Andrey Fedorov said that his country was ready to provide cheap oil to Pakistan if contacted by the Pakistani government.

Russian Consul General Andrey Fedorov confirmed that the former prime minister Imran Khan discussed the trade of Russian oil during his visit to Moscow. He also confirmed that the sanctions on Russia could affect trade ties with Pakistan.
 
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar, while referring to the alleged conspiracy behind the ouster of the PTI government, said the opinion of the Pakistan Army on the issues of national security could not be taken as a final word.

The former minister made these remarks during a TV show. “At the outset, you were asking me a question that since it is a matter of national security so the army has a final word on the issue, [but] with due respect, I don’t agree with this,” he added.

The PTI leader was referring to the remarks made by the spokesperson of the Pakistan Army, Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, a day earlier wherein he had rubbished the claims of a foreign conspiracy being peddled by Imran Khan.

Maj Gen Iftikhar said that no evidence of any “foreign conspiracy” was found and the National Security Committee (NSC) participants were clearly told that no conspiracy was hatched against the PTI government.

"No one has the right to twist and distort the facts. The armed forces and their leadership have been the target of propaganda for some time now," he had added. Former prime minister Imran Khan has repeatedly claimed that he had been ousted from power through a foreign conspiracy.

PTI looks toward SC

“President of Pakistan's letter to the chief justice, remains unanswered. A judicial commission should hold open hearings and whether there was a conspiracy will be settled once and for all. That there was blatant external interference has been ratified twice by the NSC,” Umar said in a tweet.

In a tweet, PTI leader Shireen Mazari also disagreed with the military spokesperson over the issue of the alleged conspiracy.

She said, “With due respect to ISPR DG's statement on the cipher not being reflective of regime change conspiracy but merely of an unacceptable interference in our internal affairs, clearly, there is a diff in interpretation & it is wrong to label those disagreeing as basically liars,” she added.

“There are too many unanswered troubling questions. The most rational way to resolve what is a critical issue for our nation is for the Honourable CJP to respond positively to President Alvi's letter seeking a judicial probe on the cipher. This is the only way forward to put the matter to rest,” the ex-minister said while referring to a letter sent by Alvi to the CJP at the request of Imran.

PTI leader Babar Awan, Shahbaz Gill, Hammad Azhar and Ali Awan also took to Twitter to share their reactions to the statement of the ISPR chief.

Imran's chief of staff, Shahbaz Gill, called for an open hearing by the top court and said the letter sent by the envoy to the US should be produced before the public along with the minutes of the meeting. "This will clear up everything," he added.

He asked whether the services chiefs, during the NSC meeting, endorsed the demarche to the US and acknowledged the letter as 'foreign interference'. "If the answer is yes, then why are they giving such explanations," he added.

Azhar, while talking to reporters, urged for snap polls and reiterated that the PML-N government came to power through foreign interference. He said he could use the word ‘interference’ instead of ‘conspiracy’, but that did not change the fact that the incumbent government was brought to power through a foreign state's interference.

In a tweet, Babar Awan also urged the Supreme Court to probe the alleged conspiracy so “foreign and local” elements involved in this alleged conspiracy could be exposed. “This is an issue of national interest,” he added.

Express Tribune
 
The military has said that it has no objection whatsoever if a judicial commission is set up to probe into the PTI’s claims that Imran Khan had been ousted from power through a foreign conspiracy.

“Whatever commission the government forms, the military will extend full cooperation,” DG ISPR Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said in a TV interview on Wednesday – the day the PTI’s chorus for a judicial probe rose to a crescendo.

“The incumbent government has this option. The previous government also had this option,” the military spokesperson said.

President Dr Arif Alvi has already written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan calling for a judicial inquiry to settle this crucial matter that involves national security.

In another television interview, the military spokesperson said a day earlier that the National Security Committee (NSC) was clearly told in its 37th meeting that the intelligence agencies had not found evidence of any “foreign conspiracy” against the PTI government.

Former senior minister Asad Umar on Wednesday sought to call it an opinion of the DG ISPR, saying that he did not agree that “since it is a matter of national security, the army’s opinion should be considered the final word.”

But Maj Gen Babar said in his fresh interview that it wasn’t an opinion – rather whatever he said was based on the reports of the intelligence agencies. He added that he is the spokesperson for the armed forces of Pakistan and that he had spoken on behalf of the three services chiefs who attended the NSC meeting.

“All the services chiefs had clearly stated their stance during the NSC meeting. And none of them said a conspiracy was hatched,” the DG ISPR said while referring to the 37th NSC meeting on March 31, 2022. “The word conspiracy was not written in the statement issued at the end of the NSC meeting,” he added.

In that meeting, the national security adviser had briefed the participants on a “formal communication” of a senior official of a foreign country to Pakistan’s ambassador in the said country in a formal meeting, which was duly conveyed by the ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The committee expressed grave concern at the communication, terming the language used by the foreign official as undiplomatic,” read a statement issued by the PM Office after the meeting.

The committee concluded that the communication amounted to “blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan by the country in question, which was unacceptable under any circumstances”.

The meeting, chaired by then prime minister Imran Khan, decided that a demarche would be issued both in Islamabad and in the foreign country’s capital through proper channel in keeping with the diplomatic norms.

Express Tribune
 
Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Thursday said he could soon approach the top court of the country due to the situation's 'sensitivity', as the debate about the alleged foreign conspiracy against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regains momentum.

"The master plan was to bring sheen [into power] to replace noon," Rashid said in a Twitter post.

"The Noon league is just for the TV show," he said while referring to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)."

Referring to the alleged conspiracy against the former ruling party, the veteran politician said that he was being "dragged into the matter".

Rashid, who also heads the Awami Muslim League (AML), pointed out that there were minutes of every meeting and that a statement is released to the media after approval from all the sides involved.

"I could approach the Supreme Court soon given the sensitivity of the matter," he said, without explaining further.

In a recent television interview, Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said that the National Security Committee (NSC) was clearly told in its 37th meeting that the intelligence agencies had not found evidence of any foreign conspiracy against the PTI-led government.

Former senior minister Asad Umar had sought to call it an opinion of the DG ISPR, saying that he did not agree that “since it is a matter of national security, the army’s opinion should be considered the final word.”

However, the military spokesperson said that it wasn’t an opinion – rather whatever he had said was based on the reports of the intelligence agencies. He added that he is the spokesperson for the armed forces of Pakistan and that he had spoken on behalf of the three services chiefs who attended the NSC meeting.

Since his ouster from power, PTI chairman Imran Khan is of the stance that his government was ousted as a result of a US conspiracy, orchestrated through the successful no-trust move against him.

Express Tribune
 
Former planning minister Asad Umar has conceded that the head of Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, the ISI, had told the National Security Committee (NSC) that he did not see a conspiracy against the then-PTI government.

According to a report published by The News, the PTI Secretary-General said in a television show Wednesday that, however, the DG ISI did not produce any document in the meeting to support his stance, adding that it was all verbal.

The statement that followed the NSC meeting held on March 31, chaired by then-premier Imran Khan and attended by federal ministers and top military officials, said the committee decided to issue a strong demarche the country in question — later revealed to be the United States — and also notably made no mention of a conspiracy. It did, however, mention "blatant interference" in the internal affairs of a country.

Former prime minister Khan has continued to insist that his removal through a vote of no-confidence was a "regime change conspiracy" due to what he says is his "independent foreign policy".

A subsequent NSC meeting, chaired by his successor Shahbaz Sharif, ruled out a "foreign conspiracy", and later press conferences by the DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar clarified that the word "conspiracy" was not used in the March 31 NSC statement.

The NSC meeting in question came after the then premier waved a "threat letter" in a political rally, which he later said contained details of an exchange a State Department official, later purported to be Donald Lu, had with the then Pakistani ambassador Asad Majeed Khan with regard to the vote of no-confidence.

Talking in a TV show yesterday, Asad Umar responded to a question about the ISPR chief’s presser denying a conspiracy, saying the army spokesman had only said the JCSC and all services chiefs were present in the meeting and he did not say what their opinion was.

Secondly, Umar claimed the ISPR chief had said the ISI DG told the meeting he did not see a conspiracy and it was true that he had said said that. But, he said, he did not present in the NSC meeting any detailed report or document to corroborate his finding.

He said there had been no document other than the cipher presented in the meeting. Asad Umar also said that the DG ISPR had never claimed that all the services chiefs also did not see any conspiracy.
 
Former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday said that the United States (US) backed regime change because it wanted to have military bases in Pakistan and use the country once again to meet its foreign policy objectives in the region and beyond.

The former premier said that the US once again wants to have bases in Pakistan and use the country against Russia, saying the issue was going on between the US and Russia but Pakistan can’t import cheap oil and gas from Russia; a condition that doesn’t apply to India.

“Those who have powers; those who are our neutrals; those who now say that we have taken a step back and become neutral; isn’t this their Pakistan,” Imran, who is the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said. “Won’t they suffer if the economy goes down.”

Read more: ‘Below me to respond to compulsive liar like Imran,’ says ex-brigadier

The PTI chairman asked if those who have been imposed on Pakistan – the incumbent government – have interests in Pakistan, saying they fled abroad whenever corruption cases are filed against them and come back after striking a deal – NRO.

“Is this in Pakistan’s interest,” Imran asked. “If we think that our interest is with these ‘thieves’ then we don’t have any future.”

Speaking at a seminar titled ‘Regime Change: Impact on Politics, Security and Economy’ organised by Islamabad Policy Institute (IPI), he said the regime change has profoundly harmed Pakistan.

During his tenure, Imran had repeatedly said that giving military bases to the US for its future operations in Afghanistan was out of the question. At one point, Imran had categorically said that Pakistan would “absolutely not” allow any bases to the US and use of its territory for any sort of action inside Afghanistan.

Even, during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, country’s civil and military leadership had emphasised that Pakistan was ready to face any consequence but would not permit the US to establish any airbase on its soil.

The PTI chairman recalled that Pakistan paid a huge price for taking part in the war on terror but the US never even thanked it for standing by it, adding that the reason was that “we allow others to use us like tissue paper”.

The former-cricketer-turned-premier said that those imposed on Pakistan through the US regime change conspiracy had no interest in the country because they were just looting and plundering the national wealth.

Imran said that “these crooked people” just commit corruption and flee the country, as they had nothing to do with the country and its people. He reiterated that they only come back after striking a deal to clear their corruption cases, adding that they again gave themselves a clean chit in Rs1,100 billion corruption cases under a NRO-2 by amending NAB law.

Because of the regime change, Imran said that there was an ongoing debate about what had happened to the country, regretting that “these thieves have plunged the country into a quagmire”.

The PTI chairman asked when the Economic Survey testified that the economy was flourishing during the PTI tenure as the agricultural industry and other sectors were improving, then why was the PTI government removed under an external conspiracy.

Imran said that the PTI government was blamed for not being able to control inflation by the incumbent rulers when they were in the opposition. However, he added, the incumbent government unleashed an unprecedented wave of inflation in just three months.

The PTI chairman said that the nation was paying the price of the incumbent rulers’ incompetency in the form of inflation and load-shedding.

He said that everyone was worried about the situation of Pakistan’s dwindling economy, fearing Pakistan was facing a situation like Sri Lanka and that would cause a national security problem.

He said that the military security was one thing but economic security was equally important, adding that the neutral would also suffer if the economy collapses.

Express Tribune
 
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and Provincial Minister Malik Ahmed Khan on Sunday said that Pakistan has no threat of any foreign conspiracy but Imran Khan’s internal conspiracy.

Addressing a press conference alongside PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar, Malik Ahmed Khan while lashing out at the PTI Chairman said that Imran Khan started hurling insults against the institutions after his government was ousted. The PTI Chairman claimed of a foreign conspiracy against his regime.

Carrying on with the criticism he posed questions saying that if there was a letter as claimed by Imran Khan then why didn’t he summoned the country’s ambassador and why didn t Imran Khan wrote a response to this country?

He explained that the PTI Chairman presents himself as an honest and true person but the reality is that Imran Khan keeps inventing new lies.

“Imran Khan considers himself a pioneer of truth and other political parties as ignorant,” he added.

Mailk Ahmed Khan said the PTI chairman hatched an internal conspiracy by faking a foreign conspiracy. He further accused the former Prime Minister of corruption.

Talking about the Toshakhana case he added that Imran Khan sold the gifts from Toshakhana. There is no better name for the PTI Chairman than ‘Tosha Khan’, he mocked.

According to Malik Ahmed Khan, the previous PTI government did nothing but corruption, they have been stealing from people in the name of public service. PTI has always violated the constitution.

“We don’t object to Imran Khan’s politics as long as it’s within the constitutional limits,” he said.
 
PTI has apologised to Donald Lu, claims Khawaja Asif

SIALKOT (Dunya News) – Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Sunday claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has apologised to US Assistant Secretary of State Donald LU.

Federal Minister Khawaja Asif said that we have received all the records regarding the PTI’s apology to Donald Lu.

“Those chanting slogans against the United States are now holding the feet of the United States and Imran Khan has given the message to Donald Lu that he has made a mistake, the chain should be started from where it was broken,” Khawaja further claimed.

Earlier today, Federal Minister for Defense Khawaja Asif said that law has tighten noose around Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, as his only agenda is to spread chaos in the country.

In a statement, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the incumbent government is aware of the inflation hike and ensured that things will get better in the coming days.

He criticized the PTI Chairman saying that Imran Khan bad mouths the Institutions as they are working within the constitutional limits. We will defend all institutions.

“Imran Khan’s only mission is to make our nuclear country weak from within,” he said.

The Federal Minister of Defense said that in 2023 there will be transparent elections as per the constitution. An era has begun in which the country will be ruled by the constitution, he added.

Khawaja Asif further blamed the former government for increase in inflation. He said the incumbent government vouches for the rule of law and constitution in the country and also for the respect institutions.

https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/658459-PTI-apologises-to-Donald-Lu,-claims-Khawaja-Asif
 
Minister claims PTI apologised to US; Fawad says ‘Asif has lost his mind’
Defence minister says government has obtained evidence of PTI leader’s meeting with the US official

ISLAMABAD:
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Sunday that the former ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has apologised to US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu and the government has obtained documentary evidence of the development while PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry rubbished his allegations, calling him “habitual liar”.

The defence minister said that the evidence pertaining to a meeting of a PTI leader with the US officials as well as PTI seeking pardon from the US government were available with the government.

The startling revelation has come against the backdrop of former prime minister Imran Khan repeatedly accusing the top US diplomat Donald Lu for using threatening language in a meeting with a Pakistani ambassador when a no-confidence motion was being moved against him.


“The one shouting anti-US slogans in Pakistan is on his knees and seeking apology from US,” the PML-N stalwart said.

In a message conveyed to the US officials, Asif said the former premier, Imran Khan has admitted that he had committed a mistake and requested to start everything “from where it all started” – from the time when he started accusing the US of backing a 'regime change operation' in Pakistan.

Asif further said that Imran has conveyed to the diplomat that he wants to settle issues with the US. He chided Imran by saying that all his arrogance was gone as he was now begging Lu to resolve issues that surfaced following his hard-hitting speeches against Lu and the US.

Since his ouster through a no-confidence motion, Imran has been accusing Lu and his country of conspiring against him and labelling the top leadership of the ruling alliance and country’s powerful stakeholder as traitors for obeying the US and not doing anything to stop it, respectively.

Also read: Donald Lu should be sacked for 'bad manners and sheer arrogance': Imran

In almost all his campaigns since his removal, Imran has been saying that “US undersecretary of state responsible for South Asia tells our ambassador in an official meeting [with] note takers on both sides that unless you get rid of your prime minister Pakistan will suffer consequences”.

In an interview to CNN, Imran even said that Lu should be sacked for “bad manners and sheer arrogance” as he reiterated that it was an American-backed plot to remove him from office. In addition, Imran while accusing the US of forcing a regime change in Pakistan links it to his trip to Russia, saying it was perceived as if he was anti-American.

PTI government’s former information minister Fawad Chaudhry while calling Asif “a habitual liar” said that no such thing has taken place. “Neither Imran Khan nor PTI has directed anyone to meet and seek pardon from Lu and US,” Fawad told The Express Tribune. “We don’t know if someone has met with Lu or US officials in personal capacity.”

To Asif’s claim that the government has obtained documentary evidence to establish facts, Fawad said, “He should present the evidence if he has any” and reiterated that no directions have been issued to anyone for a patch-up.

Fawad said that ex-PM Imran Khan has laid down party’s policy toward the US through his statements, interviews and public speeches that the “regime change through a cipher was unacceptable”. He said Imran reiterated the same in party’s July 2 rally at Parade Ground in the capital.

Later, in a tweet, Fawad said that PTI has not contacted any US government representative at any level, saying Asif had become “mentally-ill” due to an incident in the recent past and he needed treatment.

Express Tribune
 
WASHINGTON: The US State Department on Sunday reiterated its stance that there’s no truth to the claims that Washington was involved in a conspiracy to bring down the PTI government.

The controversy resurfaced on Sunday with media reports that PTI’s secretary overseas Abdullah Riar “has contacted US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and asked him to forget the past and move forward”.

In March, former prime minister Imran Khan, while he was still in office, claimed that the opposition’s no-confidence motion against him was the result of a “foreign conspiracy” because of his external policy and funds were channeled from abroad to oust him.

Later, PTI leaders told journalists that they based their claim on a cable that former Pakistani ambassador in Washington sent to Islamabad on March 7, detailing the conspiracy. The cable included details of Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan’s meeting with Mr Lu at the Pakistan Embassy.

Dawn learned from diplomatic sources that the conversation mentioned in the cable happened at a farewell lunch by the outgoing ambassador and that the cable did not say anything about a conspiracy. Mr Lu, however, did convey the Biden administration’s ‘unhappiness’ over former PM’s visit to Moscow on the day Russia invaded Ukraine.

Mr Lu also said that this ‘unhappiness’ would continue as long as Imran Khan was in power. During the long conversation, Mr Lu also asked questions about the no-confidence movement against the PTI government as this was all over the media.

When Dawn contacted the US State Department for comments on Mr Riar’s reported contact with Mr Lu, a spokesperson said: “As a standard practice, we do not comment on private diplomatic meetings.”

On Imran Khan’s claim on the US involvement in toppling him, the spokesperson said: “As we have said before, there is no truth to these allegations.”

PTI sources in the US also refused to discuss the reported contact, while Mr Riar did not return calls or respond to messages.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2022
 
PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday threatened that he would be forced to "reveal everything" about the characters involved in the alleged conspiracy to oust his government if harassment of him and his party did not cease.

Speaking in a video message from Islamabad, he said: "If we are pushed against the wall and harassed then I will be forced to speak up and will lay bare everything before the nation about what happened."

Imran said he was "silent" despite knowing everything about "who did what" to force his ouster. He said he did so for the nation's sake so the country suffers no damage, adding: "I know how this conspiracy happened and who is involved."

The PTI chairman said that he had already made a video recording, in case anything happened to him, so the public could know "which characters did what and who committed this great betrayal with the country."

Imran had first made mention of his tape in May, when he claimed that his life was in danger and that he had recorded a video identifying the names of all those who "conspired against me".

The PTI chairman claims he was ousted from the top office by foreign powers through local players due to his pursuance of an independent foreign policy.

In his message today, Imran likened his ouster to the fall of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government. He alleged that the common element in both government changes was the disapproval of the US about Pakistan pursuing an independent foreign policy.

Imran lashed out at the current leaders and members of the coalition government, claiming they only cared about getting "NRO-2" and had broken inflation records — despite campaigning against inflation during the PTI government's tenure.

He added that the nation was refusing to accept the present government, pointing to the crowds coming out on protest calls by the PTI. "Whoever was involved in the conspiracy should think that people are not accepting these thieves and traitors," he added.

'Never seen such fascism in Pakistan'

Imran lashed out in particular at the treatment being meted out to journalists, alleging that they were being threatened and harassed, particularly those who are seen to favour the PTI.

"I've never seen such fascism in Pakistan and the kind of fear that is being spread. I ask this question today from the nation and our judiciary, are fundamental rights suspended in Pakistan? Is there a martial law [in place]? Which constitution permits this?"

Imran also alleged that the administration was involved in rigging the upcoming Punjab by-elections and called on the people to come out and vote to ensure the PTI wins.

Express Tribune
 
John Bolton, a former US ambassador to the United Nations and former White House national security adviser, said on Tuesday that he had helped plan attempted coups in foreign countries.

Bolton made the remarks to CNN after the day’s congressional hearing into the Jan 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. The panel’s lawmakers on Tuesday accused former President Donald Trump of inciting the violence in a last-ditch bid to remain in power after losing the 2020 election.

Speaking to CNN anchor Jake Tapper, however, Bolton suggested Trump was not competent enough to pull off a “carefully planned coup d’etat”, later adding: “As somebody who has helped plan coups d’etat — not here but you know [in] other places — it takes a lot of work. And that’s not what he (Trump) did.”

Tapper asked Bolton which attempts he was referring to.

“I’m not going to get into the specifics,” Bolton said, before mentioning Venezuela. “It turned out not to be successful. Not that we had all that much to do with it but I saw what it took for an opposition to try and overturn an illegally elected president and they failed,” he said.

In 2019, Bolton as national security adviser publicly supported Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido’s call for the military to back his effort to oust socialist President Nicolas Maduro, arguing that Maduro’s re-election was illegitimate. Ultimately Maduro remained in power.

“I feel like there’s other stuff you’re not telling me [beyond Venezuela,” the CNN anchor said, prompting a reply from Bolton: “I’m sure there is.”

Many foreign policy experts have over the years criticised Washington’s history of interventions in other countries, from its role in the 1953 overthrowing of then Iranian nationalist prime minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and the Vietnam war, to its invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan this century.

But it is highly unusual for US officials to openly acknowledge their role in stoking unrest in foreign countries.

“John Bolton, who’s served in highest positions in the US government, including UN ambassador, casually boasting about he’s helped plan coups in other countries,” Dickens Olewe, a BBC journalist from Kenya, wrote on Twitter.

Dawn
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Honourable Supreme Court's detailed judgement on Vote of No Confidence exposes the lies & propaganda indulged in by Imran Khan & Co. Utterly shameful how IK tried to undermine the Constitution & manufactured the lie of "regime change". The judgement is a must read for everyone.</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1547494724788944900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Imran ‘deeply hurt’ by detailed SC judgement

DERA GHAZI KHAN: PTI Chairman Imran Khan, expressing his disappointment with the detailed verdict issued by the Supreme Court in suo motu case against the ruling of the deputy speaker on Wednesday night, said the top court should have probed the issue after President Arif Alvi shared it with the chief justice.

“I feel deeply hurt” by the remarks made by the court that there was no investigation regarding the threat letter, Mr Khan said while addressing a rally in Dera Ghazi Khan’s PP-28 constituency on Thursday. “I produced the cipher before the federal cabinet. We have the minutes of the meeting. I took this letter to the meeting of the National Security Committee and even tabled it in parliament,” Imran Khan claimed.

The commission formed by the government to investigate the alleged conspiracy was disbanded after the ouster of the PTI government, the ex-PM said, adding that the letter was even shared with the chief justice. “What else could I have done,” Mr Khan “respectfully” asked the five-member bench that issued the judgement.

According to the PTI chief, the CJP should have investigated the issue when Mr Alvi shared the letter with him. In a reference to suo motu notice that overturned Qasim Suri’s April 3 ruling regarding the dismissal of the no-confidence motion against Mr Khan, the former PM said the top judge took suo motu notice and opened courts at night but an elected PM was removed through an alleged conspiracy yet nothing was done.

Says apex court should have probed cipher to find out who US threat was addressed to

Mr Khan said the court should have investigated to whom this message for the removal of the PM was addressed. If there was no action regarding the conspiracy then in future no prime minister of Pakistan would take a stand for the country, he claimed.

Mr Khan hurled accusations at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja once again. “CEC Raja, you are the election commissioner for the entire country, but why do you spend three days in Lahore,” he alleged. He claimed to have the “records” of Mr Raja’s meetings with the PML-N and said the nation would not forgive him.

Mr Khan said that despite the nexus of the PML-N and the ‘umpires’, the PTI will emerge victorious in Punjab by-elections.

DAWN
 
The SC lied. The opposition were invited to see the telegram but refused. The SC is saying they weren't shown it. Watch from 15min

 
The SC lied. The opposition were invited to see the telegram but refused. The SC is saying they weren't shown it. Watch from 15min


This is insulting to the people of Pakistan.

Wonder how much longer they will tolerate these sham institutions who are run to favour 2 chor families.
 
This is insulting to the people of Pakistan.

Wonder how much longer they will tolerate these sham institutions who are run to favour 2 chor families.

It's disgraceful that the SC blatantly lied. Asad Umar can't say it but we can. Bajwa and his imported crooks have left nothing in PK that has any respect because they have put in place absolute shysters running these institutions making short term, political decisions that will hurt the country badly in the long term
 
The issue of secret diplomatic cable that was at the center of controversy ahead of no-confidence vote against former prime minister Imran Khan is once again at the limelight when a PTI leader claimed that ‘cypher’ was initially withheld from Imran and then foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Shahbaz Gill, PTI Chairman’s Chief of Staff, told reporters outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday that he was told by the former foreign minister that the diplomatic cable was kept hidden from him and Imran Khan.

He said that the diplomatic cypher was with ‘powerful quarters’ and Qureshi on finding out about the cypher had said, “Why it was not shared with me?”

The foreign office, however, dismissed the claim terming it “entirely baseless” that the Cypher Communication received from the Embassy in Washington was ‘hidden’ from the Foreign Minister or Prime Minister.

“Such a question simply does not arise. The Foreign Office operates on a professional basis and it would be detrimental to cast aspersions on its working,” the foreign office spokesperson said in a statement.

Also read: No evidence opposition colluded with foreign state, says SC

A source explained that there were laid down protocols for the cypher communications particularly that received from important countries. Under the standard operating procedures, all the relevant figures including the president, prime minister, foreign minister, the army chief and DG ISI receive such diplomatic cables.

There was no question of bypassing the well-established protocol, the source added.

The cypher in question was the basis of Imran Khan’s claims that he was ousted from power through a well-orchestrated US conspiracy.

The secret diplomatic cable details a meeting between Pakistan’s then Ambassador to Washington Asad Majid and US Under Secretary for South and Central Asia Donald Lu. In that meeting, the US official conveyed the Biden administration’s reservations over Pakistan’s “neutral” stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Pakistani envoy was in particular conveyed displeasure of the US over Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow at a time when President Putin was preparing for invading Ukraine.

Also read: PTI leader critical of Establishment’s role in politics

What caused the political storm and controversy was the claim by Imran that in that secret cable the US official warned Pakistan of dire consequences if the vote of no confidence against him was not successful.

Imran went on to add that the US official told the Pakistani envoy that Islamabad would be forgiven if the no-trust motion succeeded.

The issue of diplomatic cable and alleged US conspiracy was twice discussed by the country’s high-powered National Security Committee (NSC) once when Imran was still the prime minister and second time when he was ousted from power.

In both those closed door meetings, the military leadership stated categorically that there was no evidence of US conspiracy. But Imran insisted that the NSC admitted that there was “interference”, something according to him warranted a thorough probe.

During the question-answer session, the spokesperson said that Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Asad Majeed briefed the National Security Committee (NSC) on the context and content of his telegram. The NSC after examining the contents of the communication, reaffirmed the decisions of the last NSC meeting, he maintained.

“The committee was again informed by the premier security agencies that they have found no evidence of any conspiracy. Therefore, the NSC after reviewing the contents of the communication, the assessments received, and the conclusions presented by the security agencies, concluded that there has been no foreign conspiracy.”

Commenting on some media speculations or rumors about some statements attributed to Ambassador Asad Majeed, the spokesperson termed them “baseless and totally incorrect”. “There was no pressure of any kind on the ambassador at any time. And there is no possibility of any editing of the communication.”

On a question to clarify difference between ‘interference’ and ‘conspiracy’, the FO spokesperson said, “I think it is not for me to get into the meaning and semantics of these terms. It is quite clear the matter has been adequately and sufficiently discussed and addressed in the meetings of the NSC.”

On a question about the communication being withheld, he stated categorically that “such assertions are unfounded”. “There is no question or possibility of hiding or holding back something like that. It was a Cypher Telegram, which is an accountable and classified document, whose handling and access are strictly in accordance with relevant cypher instructions and procedures. The Telegram was duly received at the Foreign Office and immediately distributed to the relevant authorities,” he added.

“As for the exact contents of the demarche, I think it is not appropriate to mention that publically. It was decided by the NSC that demarches be made in keeping with diplomatic norms.”

Express Tribune
 
FO rejects Gill's claims that ex-PM Imran was kept in dark about cypher

The Foreign Office on Tuesday rejected PTI leader Shahbaz Gill's claims that the cypher — at the centre of PTI's foreign conspiracy claims — received from the Pakistani embassy in Washington was initially hidden from then-prime minister Imran Khan and then-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

In a short statement issued on Tuesday night, the FO spokesperson termed "entirely baseless the claim that the Cypher Communication received from the Embassy in Washington was ‘hidden’ from the Foreign Minister or Prime Minister".

"Such a question simply does not arise. The Foreign Office operates on professional basis and it would be detrimental to cast aspersions on its working," it said.

Gill's claim
The claim was made by Gill outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday afternoon. Speaking at a press conference, Gill said that the cable was before the court, before the honourable chief justice of Pakistan, so he could form a commission to investigate it.

"For this, we are standing before the court for justice. In this [case] we have not received justice," he added.

He said: "The cypher sent by the Pakistani ambassador [contained details] of the message given to him in America.

"I'm once again saying this on record before the Supreme Court of Pakistan that the cypher was hidden from the prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan.

"That cypher was with senior officials of the country, but it was hidden from the then prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan and then foreign minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi. I'm saying this on record."

He went on to describe that when "Shah sahab found out that such a cable had arrived from the embassy in Washington, he summoned the foreign secretary and asked him 'has such a cable come?'

"Then he (foreign secretary) hesitantly said 'yes, it has'. Then Shah sahab asked him, 'why wasn't it shared with me?'."

The cable was then shared, Gill alleged, following which Qureshi brought it before Imran. "Let me set the record straight. I stand before the Supreme Court and request that the entire Pakistani nation be given justice on this matter."

Cablegate
The controversy surrounding the no-confidence motion against the former premier Imran Khan took a dramatic turn when the embattled PM brandished a letter at a rally on March 27 — days before his ouster — claiming it contained evidence of a "foreign conspiracy" hatched to topple his government.

Imran had kept mum about the contents of the letter when he first unveiled it but he spilled the beans days later by naming the United States when the exit of his government appeared imminent.

Imran's allegation that the US spearheaded his exit from power was based on a cypher received from Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed, in which the envoy had reported about a meeting with Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu.

Majeed had reportedly said that Donald Lu warned that Imran Khan’s continuation in office, who was set to face a vote of no confidence, would have repercussions on bilateral relations.

The US was said to be annoyed with Imran over his "independent foreign policy" and visit to Moscow.

The Pentagon and the State Department have repeatedly rejected the accusations, saying there was no veracity to it.

The National Security Committee (NSC), which includes all services chiefs as well as the head of Pakistan's top intelligence agency, took up the matter on March 31 with then premier Imran Khan in the chair. The forum decided to issue a "strong demarche" to a country that it did not name over what it termed as “blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan”.

It had also termed the interference "unacceptable under any circumstances" and said the language used in the communique was undiplomatic.

While the forum had stopped short of calling the interference a conspiracy at the time, another meeting of the NSC was held on April 22 with newly elected premier Shehbaz Sharif in the chair, and which included the same military chiefs who attended the March 31 session.

During its second meeting, the NSC statement said it “reaffirmed the decisions of the last NSC meeting” and explicitly went on to add that it found no evidence of a foreign conspiracy.

DAWN
 
We were threatened to bring in no-confidence vote: Javed Latif confesses

PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif has claimed that the part was threatened to table the controversial vote of no-confidence against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

While addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club, PML-N MNA Mian Javed Latif seemed to have criticized his party. He said the outcome will remain unfavorable if people within the party get compromised and continue to run the party the way it has been running.

Criticizing the party leadership, Javed Latif said “don’t take decisions on personal likes and dislikes, otherwise the party will face the consequences”. Not holding back, he said they [PML-N] were intimidated and threatened to table the vote of no-confidence.

The then Opposition, led by PML-N, had brought the vote of no-confidence (VoNC) against the then Prime Minister Imran Khan which led to his ouster. The events leading up to the VoNC were controversial as PML-N and PPP were accused of horse-trading.

While the PML-N successfully brought the VoNC and subsequently came into governance, its popularity among the public decreased. Whatever public support PML-N was left with, took a hard hit due to its economic policies and alleged “fascism”.

https://www.globalvillagespace.com/...-in-no-confidence-vote-javed-latif-confesses/
 
CYPHER PROBE: SC CANNOT INTERVENE IN EXECUTIVE POWERS

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday released a written verdict on the appeals, seeking an investigation into alleged US cypher, ARY News reported.

Advocate Zulfiqar Bhutta, Naeemul Hassan and Tariq Badar filed chamber pleas.

The petitioners had prayed that a high-powered commission of inquiry should be constituted to hold inquisitorial proceedings with regard to the anti-state activities conducted by the respondent political parties through mala fide and abuse of power under the provisions of the Constitution and for committing sedition and treason against the democratically and legally elected government.

On Wednesday, Justice Qazi Faez Isa heard three in-chamber appeals against the registrar’s objections to the petitions seeking an investigation into the cypher — the cable allegedly threatening the ouster of Imran Khan’s government.

The written verdict stated that the SC cannot intervene in the power of the executive as article 175/3 of the Consitution of Pakistan separate the judiciary from the executive.

The then-prime minister Imran Khan had the authority to announce a probe into the alleged cypher, the verdict said. The SC said the applicants failed to prove a violation of fundamental rights in the case, therefore the appeals stand dismissed.

ARY
 

I had a luncheon meeting today with Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu. He was accompanied by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Les Viguerie. DCM, DA and Counsellor Qasim joined me.
At the outset, Don referred to Pakistan’s position on the Ukraine crisis and said that “people here and in Europe are quite concerned about why Pakistan is taking such an aggressively neutral position (on Ukraine), if such a position is even possible. It does not seem such a neutral stand to us.” He shared that in his discussions with the NSC, “it seems quite clear that this is the Prime Minister’s policy.” He continued that he was of the view that this was “tied to the current political dramas in Islamabad that he (Prime Minister) needs and is trying to show a public face.” I replied that this was not a correct reading of the situation as Pakistan’s position on Ukraine was a result of intense interagency consultations. Pakistan had never resorted to conducting diplomacy in public sphere. The Prime Minister’s remarks during a political rally were in reaction to the public letter by European Ambassadors in Islamabad which was against diplomatic etiquette and protocol. Any political leader, whether in Pakistan or the U.S., would be constrained to give a public reply in such a situation.
I asked Don if the reason for a strong U.S. reaction was Pakistan’s abstention in the voting in the UNGA. He categorically replied in the negative and said that it was due to the Prime Minister’s visit to Moscow. He said that “I think if the no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister succeeds, all will be forgiven in Washington because the Russia visit is being looked at as a decision by the Prime Minister. Otherwise, I think it will be tough going ahead.” He paused and then said “I cannot tell how this will be seen by Europe but I suspect their reaction will be similar.” He then said that “honestly I think isolation of the Prime Minister will become very strong from Europe and the United States.” Don further commented that it seemed that the Prime Minister’s visit to Moscow was planned during the Beijing Olympics and there was an attempt by the Prime Minister to meet Putin which was not successful and then this idea was hatched that he would go to Moscow.
I told Don that this was a completely misinformed and wrong perception. The visit to Moscow had been in the works for at least few years and was the result of a deliberative institutional process. I stressed that when the Prime Minister was flying to Moscow, Russian invasion of Ukraine had not started and there was still hope for a peaceful resolution. I also pointed out that leaders of European countries were also traveling to Moscow around the same time. Don interjected that “those visits were specifically for seeking resolution of the Ukraine standoff while the Prime Minister’s visit was for bilateral economic reasons.” I drew his attention to the fact that the Prime Minister clearly regretted the situation while being in Moscow and had hoped for diplomacy to work. The Prime Minister’s visit, I stressed, was purely in the bilateral context and should not be seen either as a condonation or endorsement of Russia’s action against Ukraine. I said that our position is dictated by our desire to keep the channels of communication with all sides open. Our subsequent statements at the UN and by our Spokesperson spelled that out clearly, while reaffirming our commitment to the principle of UN Charter, non-use or threat of use of force, sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and pacific settlement of disputes.
I also told Don that Pakistan was worried of how the Ukraine crisis would play out in the context of Afghanistan. We had paid a very high price due to the long-term impact of this conflict. Our priority was to have peace and stability in Afghanistan, for which it was imperative to have cooperation and coordination with all major powers, including Russia. From this perspective as well, keeping the channels of communication open was essential. This factor was also dictating our position on the Ukraine crisis. On my reference to the upcoming Extended Troika meeting in Beijing, Don replied that there were still ongoing discussions in Washington on whether the U.S. should attend the Extended Troika meeting or the upcoming Antalya meeting on Afghanistan with Russian representatives in attendance, as the U.S. focus right now was to discuss only Ukraine with Russia. I replied that this was exactly what we were afraid of. We did not want the Ukraine crisis to divert focus away from Afghanistan. Don did not comment.
I told Don that just like him, I would also convey our perspective in a forthright manner. I said that over the past one year, we had been consistently sensing reluctance on the part of the U.S. leadership to engage with our leadership. This reluctance had created a perception in Pakistan that we were being ignored and even taken for granted. There was also a feeling that while the U.S. expected Pakistan’s support on all issues that were important to the U.S., it did not reciprocate and we do not see much U.S. support on issues of concern for Pakistan, particularly on Kashmir. I said that it was extremely important to have functioning channels of communication at the highest level to remove such perception. I also said that we were surprised that if our position on the Ukraine crisis was so important for the U.S., why the U.S. had not engaged with us at the top leadership level prior to the Moscow visit and even when the UN was scheduled to vote. (The State Department had raised it at the DCM level.) Pakistan valued continued high-level engagement and for this reason the Foreign Minister sought to speak with Secretary Blinken to personally explain Pakistan’s position and perspective on the Ukraine crisis. The call has not materialized yet. Don replied that the thinking in Washington was that given the current political turmoil in Pakistan, this was not the right time for such engagement and it could wait till the political situation in Pakistan settled down.
I reiterated our position that countries should not be made to choose sides in a complex situation like the Ukraine crisis and stressed the need for having active bilateral communications at the political leadership level. Don replied that “you have conveyed your position clearly and I will take it back to my leadership.”
I also told Don that we had seen his defence of the Indian position on the Ukraine crisis during the recently held Senate Sub-Committee hearing on U.S.-India relations. It seemed that the U.S. was applying different criteria for India and Pakistan. Don responded that the U.S. lawmakers’ strong feelings about India’s abstentions in the UNSC and UNGA came out clearly during the hearing. I said that from the hearing, it appeared that the U.S. expected more from India than Pakistan, yet it appeared to be more concerned about Pakistan’s position. Don was evasive and responded that Washington looked at the U.S.-India relationship very much through the lens of what was happening in China. He added that while India had a close relationship with Moscow, “I think we will actually see a change in India’s policy once all Indian students are out of Ukraine.”
I expressed the hope that the issue of the Prime Minister’s visit to Russia will not impact our bilateral ties. Don replied that “I would argue that it has already created a dent in the relationship from our perspective. Let us wait for a few days to see whether the political situation changes, which would mean that we would not have a big disagreement about this issue and the dent would go away very quickly. Otherwise, we will have to confront this issue head on and decide how to manage it.”
We also discussed Afghanistan and other issues pertaining to bilateral ties. A separate communication follows on that part of our conversation.
Assessment
Don could not have conveyed such a strong demarche without the express approval of the White House, to which he referred repeatedly. Clearly, Don spoke out of turn on Pakistan’s internal political process. We need to seriously reflect on this and consider making an appropriate demarche to the U.S. Cd’ A a.i in Islamabad.
 
Bewal bhai, you are beinging ignorant on purpose now.

Phoning and sayibg something is different.

All usa has said is the army should not interfere. It did not ask the army to nake sure pdm won. If they did that, that would be democratically wrong.

The army being asked to stay neutral and let a natural process take place.

I think your concern should be that why wasnt the army acting neutral in the first place.

You are ok with army getting involved when it favours pti
This hasn't aged well. Neutral?
 
Again you twist and turn everything you want. And i am just repeating myself again and again.

USA HAS ASKED PAK ARMY TO STAY NEUTRAL.

THats about it. They haven't used any resources or anything to make sure PDM wins the VONC.

Now instead of posting whataboutism, answer me this.

Do you want the army to favour PTI?
It didn't. The Americans actively worked to get rid of IK. The army as the last 16 months were more than bystanders. They stopped the elections by threatening martial law( MInullah said i
 
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