Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday chaired the 37th meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) in Islamabad.
The meeting was attended by ministers for defence, energy, information and broadcasting, interior, finance, human rights, planning, development and special initiatives, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, services chiefs, national security adviser and senior officers.
The meeting discussed a ‘threat letter’ — purportedly showing evidence of a foreign conspiracy to oust the PTI-led government
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), NSA Moeed Yusuf briefed the committee about the “formal communication of a senior official of a foreign country” to Pakistan’s ambassador in that country in a formal meeting which was subsequently conveyed.
Expressing grave concern over the communication, the committee termed the language used by the foreign official as undiplomatic. The committee concluded that the communication amounted to blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan by the country in question, which is unacceptable under any circumstances.
The committee decided that Pakistan will issue a strong demarche to the country in question both in Islamabad and in the country’s capital through proper channel in keeping with diplomatic norms.
Participants also endorsed the federal cabinet’s decision to take the parliament into confidence about the letter through an in-camera session.
The development comes a day after the premier shared the letter with his cabinet members in a hurriedly called meeting, which was not attended by PTI’s two major allies — Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) — despite being invited. It has been learnt that the letter was shown to the cabinet members on a TV screen.
PM Imran also called a selected group of TV anchors and informed them that “the language of the letter was threatening and arrogant” and that Pakistan would face dire consequences if the no-confidence motion failed.
However, the premier did not show the letter to the media.
The ‘threat letter’ first surfaced on Sunday during PTI’s public rally, where the PM brandished it as evidence of a “foreign conspiracy” to oust him, asking his party dissidents, as well as disgruntled allies, to change their minds and avoid becoming part of a “foreign plot” against him.
“Foreign funding is being used to change the government. Money is coming from abroad and people inside the country are being used. Some of them are unaware they are being used and some are intentionally using this money against us,” he had alleged.
