ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party engaged the same lobbying firm which was earlier hired by Pakistan’s ex-ambassador to US Asad Majeed Khan to advance Pak-US mutual relations.
While the former ambassador, through the Pakistan embassy in Washington, hired the services of PR firm named Fenton/Arlook LLC to work for further improvement of relations between the two countries,
just five days later Imran Khan brandished a paper during a public gathering alleging that his government being toppled through a US conspiracy.
Khan also claimed that US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu threatened and conspired to topple his government with the alleged collusion of the US embassy in Islamabad, which arranged several meetings with Pakistani politicians.
On March 7, Majeed held a meeting with Donald Lu and later sent a cipher to the Imran-led administration, warning about the deteriorating ties between the two countries.
After hurling serious allegations against the US for what Imran said was behind the regime change, which evoked anti-US sentiments among a large number of Pakistanis, especially the youth, the PTI hired the same firm to improve the party’s standing in the US.
Under the agreement, the PTI is required to pay $25,000 to the lobbying per month. The PTI hired the same lobbying firm to interact with influencers in the US public and business sectors.
On March 21, the Pakistan embassy in Washington hired Fenton/Arlook LLC and signed a contract, pledging to pay $30,000 to the lobbying firm per month for its services. The agreement which runs from March 21 to September 20 required the Pakistani embassy to pay two months’ upfront fee.
According to the agreement, the US PR firm was tasked with engaging journalists to inform them on Pakistan’s desire for good relations with the US.
The US PR firm was also tasked with publishing articles and broadcasts, setting up interviews, and engaging the social media audience.
