The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the Vice Chairman of PTI, from his Islamabad residence. He has been booked under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 in connection with a diplomatic cipher case.
The FIA is currently interrogating incarcerated PTI Chief Imran Khan as part of the same case. The case revolves around a missing diplomatic cable that Imran Khan claims is evidence of a foreign conspiracy against him.
The FIR against Qureshi alleges that he and other associates “are involved in the communication of information contained in the secret classified document … to unauthorized persons”. It further accuses them of misusing the contents of the cipher for their own gain, which is detrimental to state security.
The arrest of Qureshi is not believed to be linked to a recent press conference he held, where he confirmed meetings with foreign envoys and refuted reports of rifts within PTI.
Qureshi’s arrest has been condemned by various PTI leaders, who claim it is an attempt to silence dissenting voices and curb personal freedoms.
This is not the first time Qureshi has been arrested. Earlier this year, he was released in a case related to May 9 protests, and his release was delayed due to his reluctance to refrain from engaging in further protests. He was eventually released after a court order.
It remains to be seen how the investigation into the cipher case unfolds and what implications it will have for PTI and its leadership.