ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s security agencies have not found credible evidence to confirmPrime Minister Imran Khan’s complaint of a ‘foreign conspiracy’ to topplehis government, an official with knowledge of the matter, who declined tobe identified, told *Reuters* on Tuesday.
Premier Imran and the National Assembly deputy speaker had claimed thatNational Security Committee, a top panel that groups civilian officials aswell as the military and intelligence chiefs, had confirmed a plot tooverthrow him.
However, the official, who is privy to such proceedings, said the securityagencies had not come to the same conclusion as Imran Khan and hadcommunicated their view to him as well.
Imran Khan lost his parliamentary majority last week and had been facing ano-confidence vote tabled by a united opposition that he was expected tolose on Sunday. But the deputy speaker of parliament threw out the motion,ruling it was part of a ‘foreign conspiracy’ and unconstitutional.President Arif Alvi on PM Imran’s advice then dissolved parliament.
The stand-off has thrown the country of 220 million people, ruled by themilitary for extended periods since independence in 1947, into a full-blownconstitutional crisis.
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The opposition challenged Imran Khan’s decision in a legal case in theSupreme Court that began on Monday. The panel of five judges has not saidwhen it might give a ruling.
Political chaos would also worry the powerful military, which has steppedin to remove civilian governments and rule on three occasions, citing theneed to end political uncertainty.
The turmoil also threatens to damage ties with long-time ally the UnitedStates, after Imran Khan accused it of being behind the plot to overthrowhim.
The United States dismissed the accusation.
