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(MANEND NEWS): Spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday that the political development in Pakistan “leaves no doubt” that the United States intended to punish “disobedient” Prime Minister Imran Khan.
A statement issued by the Russian foreign office harshly criticised the United States for being involved in an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the Pakistani premier, stating that the opposition was colluding with the western superpower.
Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, in her statement, accused the US of “shameless interference” in the internal affairs of Pakistan for its own “selfish purposes”, claiming that PM Imran’s visit to Moscow on February 23 was a precursor to the motion of no-confidence tabled against him in the National Assembly.
The statement cited the ruling PTI’s claim, that US Deputy Secretary of State for South Asia Donald Lu called upon the Pakistani ambassador in Washington and subsequently called upon Ambassador Asad Majid to “condemn the balanced reaction of the Pakistani leadership to the events in Ukraine,” as evidence of US involvement.
Russia accused the US and western counterparts of exerting “rude pressure” on PM Imran and demanding ultimatums.
“They made it clear that partnerships with the United States are possible only if Imran Khan is removed from power,” the statement read, adding that foreign funds were used to bribe dissenting party members.
The Russian foreign office maintained that the premier has “repeatedly stated that the conspiracy against him was inspired and financed from abroad” adding that, “we hope that Pakistani voters will be informed about these circumstances when they come to the elections, which should be held within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly.”
The statement from the Russian ministry comes in light of the dismissal of the motion of no-confidence against PM Imran, which was to be voted upon on April 3.
On account of the ruling party’s claim that the motion was a foreign funded conspiracy, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri dismissed the motion under Article 5 and the NA was dissolved by President Dr Arif Alvi on the advice of the PM.
Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi today stated that the primary cause of anxiety in Pakistani society stemmed from external interference in internal affairs, adding that the National Security Committee (NSC) had reported foreign interference and deemed it inappropriate.
“At the direction of the NSC, we summoned a diplomat to the Foreign Office to issue a demarche,” Qureshi stated, confirming that the government had recorded the protest through the ambassador in Washington.
On March 27, the premier in his speech at a public rally claimed that there was a “foreign-funded plot” being hatched against his government. He showed a letter as evidence of the existence of the conspiracy aimed at toppling his government. However, he did not divulge the letter’s contents.