Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has called for a new investigation into the denial made by United States Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu regarding the conspiracy theory that the US orchestrated his removal from power by supporting the opposition’s no-confidence motion in April 2022.

Lu stated before a Congressional panel that the conspiracy theory is false and a lie. Imran Khan, speaking from Adiala jail, denied reports of meeting the US envoy and stated that he would discuss Lu’s statement and the alleged involvement of the US embassy in the ciphergate if they were to meet.

Khan clarified that the original cipher document is with the Foreign Office and that he only received a summarized version. Khan emphasized that a prime minister is not responsible for the security of his office and called for a separate judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9 and the February 8 elections.

He criticized the elimination of a political party based on the May 9 events and stated that the president and Senate elections hold no value after a rigged election. Furthermore, Khan expressed that he can remain in prison, but demanded the release of all his party leaders and workers.

The PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan labeled Lu’s statement on ciphergate as a lie and urged for a reopening of the inquiry into the controversy. The cipher controversy began when Imran Khan, before his ouster in April 2022, waved a letter at a public rally claiming it was a cipher from a foreign nation conspiring with his political rivals.

He accused the United States, specifically Donald Lu, of seeking his removal. The cipher was sent by then Pakistani ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed.