U.S. has made Pakistan ‘a slave’ without invading it, says former PM Imran Khan

Following his ouster, Imran Khan has blamed the U.S. for conspiring against his government – an allegation the U.S. and the incumbent government here have refuted.

Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. File | Photo Credit: Reuters

The U.S. has made Pakistan “a slave” without invading it, ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed, asserting that the people will never accept an "imported government."

Mr. Khan, the 69-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, was voted out of power last month through a no-confidence motion, which he alleges was plotted by the U.S. with the help of local players over his pursuance of an independent foreign policy.

After his ouster, Mr. Khan has held several public rallies in different cities, labelling the new government headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as “traitors and corrupt rulers” allegedly imposed at the behest of the U.S.

Following his ouster, Mr. Khan has blamed the U.S. for conspiring against his government – an allegation the U.S. and the incumbent government here have refuted.

"The U.S. has made Pakistan a slave without having to invade it. The people of Pakistan will never accept the imported government," Mr. Khan said while addressing a rally in Faisalabad in Pakistan’s Punjab province on May 15.

The former premier accused the U.S. of being a self-centred country that does not help others without seeing its own interest.

Mr. Khan on May 15 said that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will "beg" for money from U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken so that he (Khan) cannot come back to power.

An invitation was extended by Mr. Blinken for Pakistan's participation in the Ministerial meeting on Global Food Security to be held in New York on May 18.

Mr. Khan accused Mr. Bilawal and his father Asif Ali Zardari of being corrupt and stashing their wealth across the globe.

"Since all of Bilawal's wealth is stored outside of the country, he cannot dare to upset the U.S. otherwise he will lose everything," Mr. Khan said at the rally.

The former Prime Minister on May 14 claimed that a “conspiracy” to assassinate him was being hatched in Pakistan and abroad, warning that if anything happens to him, the people will come to know about the perpetrators through a video message he has recently recorded and placed in a safe place.

Mr. Khan has already announced a long march in Islamabad. He said the date of the march would be made public after May 20.