{"id":9331,"date":"2023-09-30T09:07:10","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T09:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/imran-qureshi-nominated-as-accused-in-fias-cypher-case-challan-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-09-30T09:07:10","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T09:07:10","slug":"imran-qureshi-nominated-as-accused-in-fias-cypher-case-challan-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/imran-qureshi-nominated-as-accused-in-fias-cypher-case-challan-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Imran, Qureshi nominated as accused in FIA\u2019s cypher case challan | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nISLAMABAD:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) nominated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi\u00a0on Saturday as accused in the challan\u00a0submitted to the special Official Secrets Act court in the cypher case, Express News<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

The FIA urged the court to initiate proceedings against the two and impose penalties on both\u00a0of them. The investigative agency has reportedly not included former finance minister and PTI leader Asad Umar<\/a> among the accused.<\/p>\n

Former principal secretary and PTI leader\u00a0Azam Khan’s statements, under Sections 161 and 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, as the FIA’s witness\u00a0have also been attached to the challan.<\/p>\n

The challan highlights that the former prime minister had the cypher\u00a0in his possession and allegedly misused classified state information. He has been accused of\u00a0not returning the copy of the cypher. Furthermore, the challan maintains that Qureshi\u00a0delivered a speech on March 27 and assisted\u00a0the PTI chairman.<\/p>\n

The transcript of the speeches given by Imran and Qureshi on March 27 have also been attached in the challan. Additionally, the FIA also submitted a list of 28 witnesses to the court, with statements of 27 of them\u00a0attached to the challan.<\/p>\n

Among the witnesses listed in the special court’s challan are former foreign secretaries\u00a0Asad Majeed and Sohail Mehmood. Moreover, Additional Foreign Secretary Faisal Niaz Timrizi has also been\u00a0listed as another key witness by\u00a0the FIA.<\/p>\n

Read <\/strong>Cypher case: Imran, Qureshi’s judicial remand extended till October 10<\/a><\/p>\n

Outlining the process of a diplomatic cypher reaching the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and landing into the hands of a prime minister, the FIA has included as\u00a0witnesses the entire chain of officials\u00a0in the foreign ministry as well as\u00a0the Prime Minister’s Office.<\/p>\n

According to sources,\u00a0copies of the challan in the cypher case are likely to be provided to the PTI chairman and Qureshi during the next court hearing.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, a date for\u00a0indictment will be determined.<\/p>\n

A copy of Azam Khan’s statement under Section 164\u00a0has already been submitted to the court. Whether the court permits access to this statement to the defence or merely allows their legal representatives to read it remains at the court’s discretion.<\/p>\n

Cypher saga<\/strong><\/p>\n

On March 27, 2022, before facing a vote of no-confidence, former premier Imran had taken out a piece of paper \u2013 allegedly a diplomatic cypher \u2013 from his pocket and displayed it at a public gathering in Islamabad, claiming it was evidence of an “international conspiracy” to topple his government.<\/p>\n

The FIA initiated its probe into the so-called \u201ccypher-gate\u201d on July 19 after the PML-N-led coalition government announced an official inquiry against the former PM and his close associates for violating the Official Secrets Act, 1923 for illegal possession of a classified document.<\/p>\n

The agency arrested Qureshi, who had served as the country\u2019s foreign minister during the PTI\u2019s rule, on August 19. An FIA Counter Terrorism Wing team interrogated Imran on August 26 inside Attock Jail in connection with the case. The agency announced Imran’s arrest on August 29 \u2013 right after his three-year jail sentence was suspended in the Toshakhana case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n