Raja Nasir accuses govt of planning IK’s ouster at US behest

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed opposition leader in Senate Raja Nasir Abbas on Thursday accused the ruling establishment of having orchestrated Imran Khan’s ouster at the behest of the US, describing it as a political miscalculation that had plunged the country into deeper political and security turmoil.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament House, Abbas criticised the displacement of what he described as a democratically elected government with a two-thirds majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), alleging that the province had been handed over to “tested and rejected mafias.”

He said the political forces now entrusted with restoring peace in the province had themselves contributed to weakening the system, questioning how they could be expected to deliver a different outcome.

“Those who weakened the system have now been tasked by the powers that be with restoring peace in KP, a decision that defies comprehension,” he said.

Abbas accused the ruling establishment of using state power to suppress political opposition, saying Pakistan had its own “little Trumps.”

He alleged that the PTI government had been removed because of fear of Khan, who had since emerged as a major political challenge for those behind his ouster.

Citing the alleged abductions of political opponents and imprisonment of women, Abbas said the treatment of PTI leaders and supporters reflected the excesses of the crackdown against the party.

He argued that the decision to remove Khan had not resolved the country’s political differences but had instead deepened instability by disregarding the electorate’s mandate.

Drawing comparisons with international conflicts, Abbas referred to the US’ interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, saying military and economic strength could not compensate for flawed political decisions.

The US, he said, had spent more than USD 2.2 trillion in Afghanistan without achieving its objectives, while its invasion of Iraq had been justified on false premises.

Arrogance, prejudice, greed and the misuse of power, he argued, had repeatedly driven nations towards disastrous decisions.

The country’s ruling elite, he added, appeared to be making similar mistakes by treating itself as a privileged class and disregarding the people’s political choices.

Abbas described Khan’s removal as another miscalculation driven by fear, greed and prejudice, warning that the consequences were being felt across the country’s political and security landscape.

He also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation, pointing out that Balochistan had remained without lasting peace for 25 years, while unrest was escalating in KP.

Questioning the government’s ability to restore stability, he argued that denying people their electoral mandate had compounded political divisions and undermined efforts to address the security crisis.

“The government is fighting the people instead of serving them,” he said.

Abbas maintained that the concentration and misuse of power were eroding the country’s political, economic and social institutions.

Pakistan, he added, was confronting crises on both domestic and international fronts, with the suppression of political dissent further aggravating its economic and security challenges.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026