“Imran Khan Wants “Ex-army General and a US Envoy” to be Summoned in Cipher Case”

Mon Dec 04 2023
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RAWALPINDI: Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has expressed his desire to summon an ex-army general, Chief of the Army Staff General (R) Qamar Javed Bajwa, and a US envoy in the ongoing cipher case.

The revelation came during the case proceedings at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Imran Khan is currently held. Babar Awan, the PTI lawyer, disclosed this information during a media talk. The cipher case revolves around a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency claims was not returned by Imran Khan. The PTI contends that the document contained a threat from the United States to remove Imran as the Prime Minister.

Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, also in custody, were initially indicted on October 23. Both pleaded not guilty. However, an Islamabad High Court division bench later ruled that the government’s notification for a jail trial was erroneous, leading to a fresh trial.

In the recent hearing, Qureshi urged the special court to summon President Dr. Arif Alvi to testify about his assent to changes in the Official Secrets Act, 1923, under which the cipher trial is conducted. The special court, led by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, ruled that Imran Khan and Qureshi would be indicted again on December 12.

During the proceedings, the judge expressed displeasure at the late arrival of PTI lawyer Usman Gul and emphasized the need for punctuality in subsequent hearings. The court instructed both parties to ensure the presence of all necessary documents for distribution.

PTI lawyer Awan raised concerns about the law under which the case challan was being distributed, stating that a clear notification from the law ministry should precede the proceedings. The FIA prosecutor asserted that the law ministry’s notification was clear, and the case hearing was being conducted accordingly.

The upcoming indictment on December 12 will mark a significant development in the cipher case, shedding light on the intricacies of the allegations against Imran Khan and Qureshi.

 

 

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