Tag: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Ex-Pakistani PM charged amid US interference scandal

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

A special court in Pakistan formally charged former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his then-foreign minister on Monday with breaching state secrecy laws. The charges stem from their alleged conspiracy to reveal what Khan characterized as US interference in orchestrating his removal by political opponents last year.

Ex-Pakistani PM charged amid US interference scandal

Did The Intercept mess things up, again?!

The Ouster Of Imran Khan: How Much Involvement Did the US Have in Pakistan’s Coup?

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

The Ouster Of Imran Khan: How Much Involvement Did the US Have in Pakista’s Coup?

On a regional level, the Khan administration has also taken steps that have angered the world’s sole superpower. Khan has attempted to increase close bilateral collaboration to improve trade and transport links with Iran, describing their 517-mile border as a frontier of “peace and friendship” and expressing his happiness at the “positive momentum in brotherly relations between the two countries.” In 2019, he also tried to broker peace negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, an agreement that could have brought considerably more peace to the Middle East. The Trump administration vehemently opposed these negotiations, scuppering them weeks later by assassinating Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

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While he has supported Iran, he has also publically opposed many of the policies of key U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and Israel. Khan successfully campaigned against Pakistani involvement in the Saudi-led war on Yemen, while he has consistently championed Palestinian rights and demanded the Muslim world do more to help them. “A day will come when Palestinians will get their own country, a just settlement, and they will be able to live as equal citizens,” he said last year, comparing their struggle to that of the worldwide campaign against Apartheid South Africa. Meanwhile, he has also publicly supported imprisoned publisher Julian Assange.

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The Pakistani military is thought to possess around 165 nuclear warheads. The country’s nuclear status came into sharp relief just as the campaign to oust Khan was heating up. While the world was concentrating on Ukraine, a potentially far more deadly incident occurred when India mistakenly fired a BrahMos cruise missile – the sort it uses to deliver its nuclear warheads – into Pakistan. In the course of routine maintenance, the rocket was accidentally launched. India did not immediately inform its neighbor of its mistake.

Deposed Pakistan leader denounces foreign conspiracy to effect regime change (Pakistan erupts in protest as Khan’s party threatens to resign en masse)

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Whatever else one thinks of Khan and his political party, in 2012 local supporters of the Tehreek-e-Insaf sent a large contingent to the march and demonstration against the NATO summit in Chicago in 2012. As there was a contrived “terrorist” panic at the time designed to put a damper on anti-NATO activities, it took a lot of courage for them to do what they did. I met with them and they were as humble as they were informed and dedicated. Their concern was with all victims of NATO.

Pakistan erupts in protest as Khan’s party threatens to resign en masse

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Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, led the bid to topple Khan. He is widely expected to be named the country’s new prime minister on Monday.

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If voted in by parliament, Shehbaz – a long-time rival of Khan – would lead the country until October 2023, when the next election is due to be held. His first tasks will include mending fences with the powerful military and the United States….

Deposed Pakistan leader denounces foreign conspiracy to effect regime change

Video Source: In Context, YouTube.

Imran Khan loses no-trust vote, prime ministerial term set for unceremonious end

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Imran Khan loses no-trust vote, prime ministerial term set for unceremonious end

After announcing results, Sadiq gave the floor to Shehbaz Sharif, who is the joint opposition’s candidate for the post of prime minister.

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He rejected the claims that the “threat letter” was fake, adding that the meeting in Washington took place on March 7.

“On March 8, the no-confidence motion was submitted against the prime minister. Look at how these things coincided,” he said, calling for holding an in-camera session.

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Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari’s speech revolved around the alleged US influence on Pakistani politics. “It is this nation’s misfortune that America has always been successful in [changing] the leaders of Pakistan.”

She recalled that the opposition was invited to check the ‘threat letter’ that according to government is ‘proof’ of a foreign-funded conspiracy.

“But I know why you did not come … because you’re a part of that conspiracy, which clearly states that ‘if you will oust Imran Khan and no-confidence vote is successful, then the nation will be forgiven.

“What will be forgiven? What crime has Pakistan done? An independent foreign policy? Who the hell is America to forgive us? And for what crime? For God’s sake have some shame. This is America’s old ways. In the 1950s, America and UK conspired to oust Iranian leader Musaddik — who was a democratic leader.”

She said America has either ousted democratic leaders or assassinated them and has installed dictatorship in countries.

“A few days ago, [US President Joe] Biden went to Poland and said ‘remove Putin and bring regime change’. This is America’s way.”

Related:

Succeeded: Regime Change in Pakistan