hroughout the country’s history, London, the capital of the United Kingdom, has been a refuge for Pakistani politicians in their exile. It has also acquired the reputation of a hub of conspiracies as one prime minister after another has pointed an accusing finger in the direction after their removal from power.

Echoes of London Plans have doing the rounds in Pakistani politics since 2012. The plans were allegedly hatched at different times against the Pakistan Peoples Party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf governments.

On May 18, Nawaz Sharif brought the spotlight back to the London Plan that, he claimed, had brought about the end of his premiership. Addressing the Central Working Committee of the PML-N, Nawaz accused Imran Khan and Tahir-ul Qadri of having conspired against his government with Lt Gen Zaheer-ul Islam (retired). “Upon coming to power in 2013, the first thing I did was go and visit Imran at his residence in Banigala to reach an agreement on a working relationship for the sake of the country. Despite the understanding, Imran Khan went to London, along with some other political figures and a plot was hatched, after which street protests were launched in the country upon the PTI founder’s return. I was left befuddled by the development. I should have been informed and told about whatever the PTI’s reservations were. I visit you and you stab me in the back after promising cooperation. Then you start agitation in Islamabad’s D-Chowk?”

Before dealing with the PML-N leader’s claims, let us first look back at the London Plan that started this all.

In 2012, Minhaj-ul Quran........

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