US denies Pakistan prime minister’s charge of conspiracy to oust him from power

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US flatly rejected on Thursday claims from Pakistan Premier Imran Khan that it is involved in a conspiracy to remove him from power.

"There is absolutely no truth to that allegation," White House spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield told reporters.

Earlier Thursday, Khan said ahead of a critical no-confidence vote that the US is part of a conspiracy to oust him for his “independent foreign policy.” He further blamed Pakistan's opposition parties of being “stooges of the foreign power."

Khan named the "foreign power" as the US in what may have been a slip of the tongue and cited what he said was a communique from the country that he alleged threatened Pakistan with consequences if the no-confidence vote fails.

The combined opposition, led by the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, submitted the no-confidence motion against Khan on March 8. Voting is expected April 3.

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, from whom Khan hails, has 155 members in the 342-member National Assembly and needs at least 172 lawmakers to hold power.

About two dozen of Khan’s own lawmakers have also announced support for the opposition, which now claims to have a majority in the lower house of parliament and has called on the premier to step down.