'Pakistan army chief exposed Imran-Qadri-US conspiracy'

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ul Qadri conspired with the US government to overthrow the government and it was exposed by Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif, former army chief Aslam Baig has revealed.

The ex-army chief also claimed that the "conspirators" wanted the army to seize power but the "military leadership had all the knowledge about the conspiracy", Geo News reported.

Baig also asserted that the US created chaos in Pakistan in collusion with Britain, Canada, and Iran.

"Had General Raheel got late in making the decision, the country would have to suffer a huge loss," he said, adding that the Pakistan army never harboured any desire to formulate Islamabad's foreign policy.

All those who were standing beside Imran Khan and Qadri were in the same lot who had been rubbing shoulders with former president and military chief Pervez Musharraf, Baig said.

He described Imran Khan and Qadri's demands as extra constitutional.

Accusing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of having rigged the 2013 general election, Imran Khan and Qadri have been protesting along with their supporters and party workers since Aug 15. They have been staging protests in Islamabad.

Last Friday, the Pakistani prime minister accused the two protesting parties of "inciting people to opt for mutiny".

He said the anti-government protests by PTI and PAT have badly affected economic activities and devalued the currency, exports have fallen and foreign heads have postponed visits.

He said the country suffered losses of around 600 billion Pakistani rupees (over 5.8 billion dollars) due to protests in Islamabad.