By Asif Shahzad

ISLAMABAD (Reuters – Pakistan’s National Security Council – A body composed of top military and civil leaders, rejected Imran Khan, the ousted prime minister,’s claim that the United States conspired against his overthrow through a parliamentary trust vote.

Khan, now 69, was the leader of South Asian nuclear-armed nation of 220 millions people, for over three years. Washington had previously accused Khan of backing a plot to get him out.

Washington had claimed that he went to Moscow against U.S. instructions. Washington strongly denies this accusation.

Asad Majeed (ex-Pakistan ambassador to America), had sent a cable from Washington to Islamabad, in which Washington’s view on Khan’s Moscow visit was discussed. He then briefed civil and military leaders at a National Security Committee (NSC) forum.

The statement of Shehbaz Sharif, new prime minister, stated that “The NSC has reviewed the contents of this communication, assessed the received information, and concluded there had been no conspiracy”.

The NSC was informed by the top spy agencies of the country that there had been no evidence supporting any conspiracy theory.

Khan’s Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf, (PTI) demanded that the matter be investigated by the court.

Vladimir Putin was the Russian president who met with the ex-leader on February 24, 2014, when Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

Khan originally resisted the motion of no confidence, asserting that the NSC had approved the alleged conspiracy.

Analysts and opponents of Khan claim that they were helped by the military to win the election. However, the two sides deny the allegations. Support for Khan declined after the fallout regarding the appointment last year of the nation’s intelligence chief.

Khan made conspiracy claims at three large rallies that he held every year since his ouster. Khan has called for snap elections.

In 2023, the next election for the parliamentary seat is scheduled.