New book reveals 'coup' conspiracy at the height of Imran Khan's 2014 dharna to oust Nawaz

Even as Imran Khan faces allegations of being a “selected” Prime Minister, revelations in author Shuja Nawaz’s new book ‘ Battle For Pakistan, Bitter US Friendship and a Tough Neighborhood’ can potentially embarrass him furr. It has been claimed that a coup was on cards at time of sit-in or 'dharna' std by Khan’s party. book quotes former US Ambassor to Pakistan Richard Olson who mentioned that Raheel Sharif (former Pakistani Army Chief) thwarted DG ISI Zahirul Islam's plan to oust Nawaz Sharif from Prime Minister’s post.  

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In Shuja Nawaz’s book, Richard Olson has been quoted as saying, “We received information that Zahirul Islam, DG ISI, was mobilising for a coup in September of 2014. (Army Chief) Raheel (Sharif) blocked it by, in effect, removing Zahir, by anuncing his successor…(Zahir) was talking to corps commanders and was talking to like-minded army officers…He was prepared to do it and h chief been willing, even tacitly, it would have happened. But chief was t willing, so it didn’t happen.” 

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What was 2014 dharna? 

2013 General Elections in Pakistan witnessed Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party secure a comfortable majority. Sharif took oath as PM 14 years after his government was overthrown by General Pervez Musharraf. However, Sharif giving go-ahe to try Musharraf on treason charges and Khan’s allegations of elections being rigged created difficulties for his regime. 

From August 14, 2014, Khan commenced a 4-months long dharna in Islamab to demand ouster of Sharif and fresh elections. At that point in time, he often hinted at intervention of ‘third umpire’, widely perceived as a reference to possibility of military establishment staging a coup. But Khan’s efforts failed to bear fruit and dharna finally ended after terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar in December 2014.  

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Opposition's allegations against Imran Khan

Currently, opposition in Pakistan has alleged that 2018 General Election was allegedly rigged before and on counting day at behest of military establishment. Polling nts of various parties were reportedly thrown out during counting process, thus casting doubts on legitimacy of victory of Khan’s party. Furrmore, Khan's regime has witnessed incarceration of key opposition leers including Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Bilawal's far Asif Ali Zardari and so forth. 

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