An Islamabad sessions court has granted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) a one-day physical remand of PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a case related to a missing diplomatic cipher. The cipher allegedly disappeared from the custody of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and has been presented by the PTI chief as evidence of a conspiracy against him.
Qureshi, along with Imran, has been charged under the Official Secrets Act for sharing the contents of the cipher with unauthorized individuals to further their own motives. Qureshi was arrested in Islamabad yesterday and was presented before judicial magistrate Ihtasham Alam Khan today.
In the court order, the judge noted that the FIA had requested Qureshi’s physical remand for 14 days for interrogation and to confront him with relevant evidence. The order stated that, according to the secrets law, physical remand falls under the jurisdiction of a special court. However, due to a public holiday, Qureshi was presented in the duty court, which granted a one-day remand subject to medical examination.
In a video released by the PTI, Qureshi maintains his innocence, stating that he has not shared any secret documents with unauthorized individuals and has not compromised any codes.
The case was registered against Qureshi and Imran after an American news outlet, The Intercept, published a diplomatic cable that was alleged to have gone missing from Imran’s possession. The first information report (FIR) was filed on August 15, following Qureshi’s arrest.
The FIR states that Imran, Qureshi, and their associates are accused of communicating the information contained in the cipher to unauthorized individuals, twisting the facts for their own ulterior motives and personal gains. The FIR also alleges that Imran directed his principal secretary to prepare minutes of a clandestine meeting to misuse the contents of the cipher.
The illegal possession and misuse of the cipher compromised the security system and secret communication methods of Pakistani missions abroad, according to the FIR. It further alleges that these actions benefitted foreign powers and caused losses to Pakistan.
The competent authority has approved the registration of the case, and investigations will determine the involvement of other individuals, including former federal minister Asad Umar and SPM Azam Khan.
In conclusion, an Islamabad court has granted the FIA a one-day physical remand of PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case. The case revolves around a missing diplomatic cipher and allegations of unauthorized sharing of its contents. The investigation will determine the truth behind the accusations and the involvement of other individuals.