Imran never sought military’s help to break political deadlock: Mazari

A former senior member of his cabinet has categorically said now deposed prime minister Imran Khan had not called the military leadership for help to break the “political deadlock” ensuing from the National Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling against the no-confidence resolution moved by the joint opposition.

Qasim Khan Suri had rejected the opposition’s no-trust move against Imran Khan, calling it a US-orchestrated attempt at “regime change” in Pakistan. He brandished a purported diplomatic cable which, according to him, contained evidence of the conspiracy against the PTI government.

Subsequently, President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of PM Imran Khan. However, Suri’s ruling was nullified by the Supreme Court which in its landmark judgement restored the National Assembly with a direction to the speaker to conduct voting on the opposition’s no-confidence resolution.

The PTI dragged its feet on the voting. This created a serious political and constitutional crisis in the country which eventually sucked in the powerful military establishment.

“Let me be clear. I am stating on record PM [Imran Khan] did not call military for help on ‘breaking political deadlock’. The military sought the meeting through then defence minister [Pervaiz] Khattak and they put forward the three proposals of either the PM resigning or taking part in VNC [vote of no confidence] or fresh elections,” Shireen Mazari said in a series of tweets.

“Why would Imran Khan give option of resigning when he had already stated categorically & repeatedly he would never resign! Makes no sense! Also Imran Khan had categorically rejected VNC as foreign regime change conspiracy. So why would he suggest these options. Absurd!”

Mazari served as Federal Minister for Human Rights in the cabinet of Imran Khan. Her tweets came a day after the military spokesperson, Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said that the establishment had not put forth options before Imran Khan. He, however, said that during the political deadlock, the Prime Minister’s Office had contacted the military leadership to resolve the matter.

Maj Gen Babar also said in media briefing that a statement issued after the National Security Committee meeting, which pored over the diplomatic cable, did not mention the word “conspiracy”, but in the same breath he confirmed that a demarche was given over “blatant interference” in Pakistan’s affairs.

The clarification was used by pro and anti-PTI supporters and media persons to vindicate their respective narratives. 

“Seriously! What is the difference between foreign interference and foreign conspiracy when the former refers to success of VNC or else? Message sent reflective of conspiracy. Glad DG ISPR has finally officially stated then Imran Khan’s Russia trip was undertaken after approval from all,” Mazari said after Maj Gen Babar’s briefing.

Apparently, the American threat was prompted by Khan’s visit to Moscow just as President Vladimir Putin ordered invasion of Ukraine, triggering an unprecedented Western response.

Maj Gen Babar, however, clarified that everyone was on board on Khan’s Moscow trip. “The question is who from Pakistan gave the impression to the United States, as claimed in the cable, that only Imran Khan had made the decision to visit Russia,” Mazari said. “Is threatening that if Imran Khan not removed there would be serious repercussions and if VNC succeeds all would be forgiven, not conspiracy?”

The State Department spokesman, Ned Price, said during a press briefing on Thursday that the United States agreed with Maj Gen Babar’s statement.

“Pakistan’s military spokesperson said they had no evidence to suggest that the United States had threatened or was involved in the conspiracy to seek the ouster of Imran Khan’s government. What are your comments on it?" a journalist asked Price.

“We would agree with it,” Price said.

In reaction to Price’s statement, Mazari said it was admission of US interference in Pakistan’s internal matters. “So finally the US admits to unacceptable interference in our internal political matters. Fact is conspiracy matures & then leads to overt interference. The words used were clearly Imran Khan if he survives will lead to his isolation from the US,” she wrote while sharing Price’s story.

“[Then] the US would be compelled to take this issue ‘head on’. But if the VNC succeeds then ‘all will be forgiven’! So removal of Imran Khan as PM was the message,” she wrote. “This is conspiracy by any definition and the interference is reflection of that. Conspiracies are covert - interference is overt reflection.”

Mazari said the nation should know that the US has admitted to this effort to impose a regime change through local abettors and a corrupt criminal political mafia. “Classic US playbook of regime change,” she said.