ISLAMABAD: The alleged foreign conspiracy cypher was thrust into the national limelight once again after the coalition government blamed former premier Imran Khan and his government for manipulating the diplomatic cable’s content for his political gains and stealing it from Prime Minister’s Office records.
The developments came after the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting held under the chair of PM Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the issue of PMO audio leaks including Imran Khan’s purported conversation regarding the diplomatic cable.
The top leaders of the coalition government had contradicted the meaning of the cypher allegedly came from the United States (US) which PTI claimed was a threat to the country for a regime change.
Sanaullah, Khar think diplomatic cable not even indicated any interference
During the first meeting of the NSC was held on March 31 with then premier Imran Khan in the chair. the forum decided to issue a “strong demarche” without naming any country after the “blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan”.
In April, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar had confirmed the veracity of the diplomatic cable but he added that ‘conspiracy’ was not mentioned in the National Security Committee’s (NSC) communique but ‘blatant inference’ into the internal affairs of Pakistan.
DG-ISPR confirms veracity of diplomatic cable, ‘blatant interference’ into internal affairs
Regarding the alleged threat letter, he said that the communique of the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting did not use the word of conspiracy but blatant inference into the internal affairs, however, a demarche [a course of action, especially a political one or especially in diplomatic affairs] was given to the US diplomat which is a diplomatic terminology having different purposes but not only to lodge a protest with a country.
Former prime minister Imran Khan had claimed that a conspiracy was hatched to topple the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government by the United States (US) which was exposed via a diplomatic cable. The political rivals had termed the threat letter fake, however, the recent presser of the DG-ISPR proved the veracity of the threat letter, however, he rejected the claims of any kind of conspiracy.
In the latest happening in national politics, PM Shehbaz Sharif-led federal cabinet decided to take legal action against Imran Khan, ex-principal secretary and former ministers of the PTI government over the missing copy of cypher, terming it a serious violation of laws and a crime against the state.
Analysts said that the coalition government failed to justify the reason for the NSC’s first meeting and strong demarche to a country if there was nothing wrong with the diplomatic cable. They added that the government has also blamed the previous PTI government for the security lapse witnessed in the shape of leaking of audio clips of public office holders despite the sensitive data being leaked during the tenure of the incumbent government.