No foreign conspiracy against PTI govt: NSC

ISLAMABAD: The National Security Committee (NSC) on Friday concluded that no foreign conspiracy was hatched against the PTI government during a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair to discuss the alleged 'threat letter'.

“The telegram received from the Pakistan Embassy in Washington" was discussed in detail during the meeting, while former Pakistani ambassador to Washington Dr Asad Majeed Khan briefed the meeting about the context of his diplomatic cable that carried the alleged threat sent to the PTI government last month by US officials, the statement issued by the NSC read.

"The NSC, after examining the contents of the communication, reaffirmed the decision of the last NSC meeting. The NSC 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 assessment received, and the conclusions presented by the security agencies, concludes that there has been no foreign conspiracy."

The meeting was attended by the services chiefs and federal ministers.

It should be recalled that former premier 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 PM’s Russian visit.

The US had rejected the allegations and said there was no truth in them.

Not only this, but DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar had also rejected the perception of a foreign conspiracy behind the no-trust 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.

The military’s spokesperson 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. All the services chiefs and DG ISI had also attended the huddle.

PM Shehbaz, soon after taking becoming the prime minister, had also said that the government will summon a meeting of the Parliament’s National Security Committee where the military leadership will brief the lawmakers.