The Official Secrets Act court in Pakistan has issued a summons for Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi to appear in the cipher case trial on October 4. This significant development follows the submission of the Federal Investigation Agency’s challan, which has named the two PTI leaders as accused.
Last week, the FIA alleged that former Prime Minister Imran Khan had violated the Official Secrets Act, of 1923, by unlawfully possessing a diplomatic cipher, potentially leading to legal consequences.
In the charge sheet presented to a special court, the agency also accused Qureshi of facilitating Imran and referenced his March 27, 2022, speech at a public rally in Islamabad.
More related: FIA submits challan in cipher case against Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood
The FIA has requested the special court to try and punish both PTI leaders for violating the Official Secrets Act.
Imran Khan had previously displayed a piece of paper, allegedly a diplomatic cipher, during a public rally on March 27, 2022, claiming it as evidence of an “international conspiracy” to overthrow his government. The FIA initiated its probe into this matter on July 19, 2023, following an official inquiry by the PML-N-led coalition government.
Notably, the FIA did not include PTI’s former secretary general, Asad Umar, among the accused. However, Imran’s former principal secretary, Azam Khan, is listed as one of the witnesses in the case, and his testimony is attached to the charge sheet.
Transcripts of the speeches made by Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi during the March 27, 2022 rally are also included in the charge sheet. Additionally, the FIA has submitted a list of 28 witnesses to the court, with statements from 27 of them attached to the challan.
More related: Imran Khan’s judicial remand in cipher case extended until Oct 10
These witnesses encompass former foreign secretaries Asad Majeed, Sohail Mehmood, and Additional Foreign Secretary Faisal Niaz Timrizi. It is expected that copies of the charge sheet will be provided to Imran and Qureshi at the next court hearing, where the accused will be indicted.
In response to the charge sheet, the PTI spokesperson has vehemently denied the charges, describing the submitted challan as “devoid of substance.” The spokesperson criticized the allegations against Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, dismissing them as baseless.
