Cypher case ‘major national security breach’: Bilawal  | The Express Tribune

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday said that former prime minister Imran Khan appears to be getting “relief” ahead of February 8 polls, saying that the cypher case was a very serious matter and demanded a thorough investigation, Express News reported. 

The cypher case pertains to a piece of paper that Imran had waved at a public rally on March 27, 2022, ahead of a vote of confidence that he lost.  

The former prime minister, later naming the US, had claimed that the cypher was ‘evidence’ of an “international conspiracy” to topple his government. 

Bilawal’s remarks came two days after the Supreme Court granted bail to Imran and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cypher case. 

“Imran seems to be getting relief. PPP does not believe in political vendettas and does not wish to engage in such practices with its opponents. However, the cypher incident is a matter of grave concern and should be thoroughly investigated. It poses a significant breach of national security,” the PPP chairman said while speaking to the media in Larkana. 

Bhutto asserted that there is no record of cypher given to Imran who himself had admitted that it was misplaced. However, he added that it became a subject of global media attention on the day the when PTI founder was arrested.  

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Bilawal called for a serious approach from the judiciary or a government-led inquiry to unveil the story behind the cypher matter.  

In response to a question about the electoral alliance, Bilawal stated that objections can be raised against any leader, but any political worker of any party, including PTI, should have the freedom to engage in politics.  

The former foreign minister quipped, “Nawaz Sharif’s initial slogan was, “Why was I ousted?” In this election, his slogan will be, ‘Why was I invited?'”