Tag: Cipher case

  • FIA submits challan against PTI leaders in cipher case

    FIA submits challan against PTI leaders in cipher case

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed a challan against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case on Saturday.

    The agency asked the court to hold the two at trial and sentence them, claiming that the former prime minister and vice chairman were found guilty in the matter.

    According to Geo’s sources, Asad Umar, former PTI secretary-general, was not included on the list of suspects. Azam Khan, formerly Imran Khan’s principal secretary, has been referred to as a “strong witness” in the case.

    The FIA also included Azam Khan’s confessions made under Sections 161 and 164 with the challan that Imran Khan keep the cipher to himself and used against the state.
    Last month, FIA booked Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi under official secret act for misusing and misplacing classified document for their political interests.

    “Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in the secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” read the first information report (FIR) registered against the PTI leaders.

  • Khan, Qureshi will remain behind bars till October 10 in cipher case: Court

    Khan, Qureshi will remain behind bars till October 10 in cipher case: Court

    A special court established under the Official Secret Act has extended the judicaila remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi till October 10 in the cipher case on Tuesday.

    The PTI Chairman and Vice Chairman will remain behind bars for the next 14 days.

    The hearing was conducted by Judge Abdul Hasnat Zulqarnain at the Attock jail.

    PTI lawyers Barrister Salman Safdar, Latif Khosa, Umer Niazi, and Naeem Panjutha attended the hearing, while the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team was also present there.

    After that, the court extended the judicial remand of both leaders until October 10.

    The FIA booked both PTI Chairman and Vice Chairman last month for allegedly misusing a top secret document for political gain.

    “Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in the secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” reads the First Information Report (FIR) registered against the PTI leaders.

  • Court issues notice to FIA for Imran Khan’s bail plea in cipher case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman plea seeking bail before arrest in the cipher case.

    The court issued the notice during the hearing of Khan’s petition challenging the decision of the special court in a diplomatic document case. Imran Khan filed the plea on Saturday.

    The bail pleas of Imran Khan and vice president of PTI Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the missing cipher case got rejected by the special court made under the Official Secrets Act.

    PTI’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, filed a petition on behalf of Imran Khan while IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the notice to FIA in response to the petition.

    Imran Khan’s legal team repeatedly requested an early hearing of the case, but the chief justice of the IHC said that the case would be decided according to proper procedure.

    On the other hand, the court ordered the FIA to submit its response regarding Imran Khan’s petition.

  • Judge hearing Imran’s plea in cipher case goes on leave

    Judge hearing Imran’s plea in cipher case goes on leave

    Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, who’s hearing the cipher case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has gone on leave until September 8.

    PTI’s lawyers, Babar Awan, Salman Safdar, and Naeem Haider Panjotha, reached the courtroom on Monday where staff told them that the Judge was on leave as his wife is unwell.

    Attorney Salman Safdar requested court staff to fix the next hearing for Thursday.

    However, the PTI’s legal team reached the courtroom of Judge Raja Javad and requested him to hear the case.

    Judge Raja Javad replied that he could not hear the bail plea as he is not a duty judge.

    “There is no notification of the duty judge under the Official Secrets Act. If the Islamabad High Court can mark it, only then I can hear it,” Judge Abbas remarked. “I can hear cases of 24 courts as a duty judge but not to the extent of the Official Secrets Act.”

  • Cipher Case: Imran Khan to remain behind bars till September 13

    Cipher Case: Imran Khan to remain behind bars till September 13

    A special court has extended the judicial remand of former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan under the official secret act till September 13 in the cipher case. He will remain in jail until September 13, Geo has reported.

    Today’s hearing, conducted in Attock Jail, was headed by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain. Due to security concerns expressed by the Interior Ministry, the hearing took place at the jail.

    Imran Khan has been imprisoned in the Attock jail since August 5. However, on Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) overturned the decision of a lower court to jail Imran Khan for three years.

    According to the report in Geo News, Imran Khan’s five-member legal team including Naeem Haider Panjotha, Salman Safdar, Intizar Panjotha, Ali Ijaz Buttar, and Umair Niazi also attended the hearing.

    On the other hand, a special court extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case for 14 days.

    The FIA’s Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) detained Qureshi earlier this month after receiving a complaint from Interior Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar alleging violations of Sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act of 1923, r/w 34 PP.

    “Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” the FIR stated.