Commission set up to investigate 'foreign conspiracy' plot

Fawad gives directives to set up commission soon after getting additional charge of Ministry of Law and Justice

ISLAMABAD:

A commission to investigate the “foreign conspiracy” behind ousting Prime Minister Imran Khan was directed to be set up on Saturday, shortly after federal minister Fawad Chaudhry was given the additional charge of the law ministry.

The Cabinet Division in Islamabad issued a notification confirming the minister's additional designation.

Fawad stated that the commission would investigate external factors relating to the no-confidence motion tabled in the National Assembly and compile a report.

The minister also ordered the reshuffling of dozens of legal officers in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

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The law minister's decision comes after PM Imran termed the opposition’s no-confidence motion against him a “huge foreign conspiracy against Pakistan”.

The premier accused a "foreign country" of meddling in Pakistan's politics claiming during a speech at a public rally 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 the ruling party. However, he did not divulge the letter’s contents.

On April 31, the United States State Department spokesman said that they are “closely” monitoring the situation in Pakistan and supported the country’s constitutional process, responding to a question about PM Imran’s statements.

“We are closely following developments in Pakistan, and we respect (and) we support Pakistan’s constitutional process and the rule of law,” spokesman Ned Price said in reply to a question at his daily press briefing.

“But,” he added, “When it comes to those allegations, there is no truth to them.”

Appointment as law minister

Fawad Chaudhry's appointment as law minister comes three days after the resignation of Barrister Farogh Naseem as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) formally parted ways with the ruling party to join the opposition.

Alongside Farogh Naseem, MQM-P leader Aminul Haque also resigned from his post of Minister for Information Technology. The lawmakers had sent their resignation letters to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

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The MQM-P had earlier announced backing the opposition parties’ no-confidence motion against the premier in the National Assembly.

MQM-P Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui made the announcement at a news conference in Islamabad alongside the leadership of the joint opposition – leaving the ruling coalition short of seven votes in the lower house of parliament.

Following the MQM-P's support for the opposition, PM Imran's favour evaporated in the National Assembly on March 30 as leaders called for the premier's resignation.

Addressing an important press conference in Islamabad, flanked by leaders of the joint opposition, to unveil the details of the agreements signed between the opposition and MQM-P, PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif urged the prime minister to resign and start a new chapter in the political history of Pakistan.