In a significant development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in response to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s petition seeking post-arrest bail in the cypher case. This latest development comes after the special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, rejected the post-arrest bail pleas of Imran Khan and PTI’s Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi concerning the missing cypher case.
The Cypher case has been a subject of controversy and legal proceedings since its inception, and Imran Khan’s legal team filed the bail petition challenging the special court’s decision last week. The IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq presided over the proceedings and emphasized that proper legal procedures would be followed, assuring that the case would be decided accordingly.
Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi remain on judicial remand in the cypher case, which is scheduled to extend until September 26. This case, which involves allegations of misplacing and misusing a classified document for political gain, has garnered significant attention in Pakistan’s political landscape.
The controversy surrounding the Cypher case began to unfold on March 27, 2022, when Imran Khan, Prime Minister at the time, made startling claims. He brandished a letter, suggesting it was a cypher from a foreign nation, but did not disclose its contents or the name of the country in question. However, a few days later, he identified the United States as the sender and alleged that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs, Donald Lu, had sought his removal from office.
The cypher was related to a meeting between Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed, and Donald Lu. Imran Khan asserted that the cypher contained language implying that “all would be forgiven for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power.”
The National Security Committee (NSC) convened to address the matter on March 31 and decided to issue a “strong demarche” to the United States for what it perceived as “blatant interference” in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
However, after Imran Khan’s removal from office and his successor, Shehbaz Sharif, taking charge, the NSC re-evaluated the situation and concluded that there was insufficient evidence of a foreign conspiracy within the cypher.
The cypher case took a more serious turn when Imran Khan’s principal secretary, Azam Khan, made crucial statements before a magistrate and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Azam Khan disclosed that Imran Khan had used the U.S. cypher for his “political gains” and to deflect a no-confidence vote against his government.
According to Azam Khan’s confession, Imran Khan was “euphoric” upon receiving the cypher and described the language within it as a “U.S. blunder.” Khan allegedly suggested that the cable could be employed to “create a narrative against the establishment and the opposition.”
Azam Khan further revealed that the PTI chairman utilized the U.S. cypher at political gatherings, disregarding Azam’s advice to avoid such actions. Imran Khan reportedly believed the cypher could be leveraged to divert public attention toward alleged “foreign involvement” in the opposition’s no-confidence motion.
With these revelations and the subsequent legal proceedings, the Cypher case has become a focal point of contention and scrutiny within Pakistan’s political landscape. Imran Khan’s bail petition marks another chapter in this ongoing legal saga, and the notice issued by the IHC to the FIA ensures that this high-profile case continues to capture the nation’s attention. As developments unfold, it remains to be seen how the legal process will proceed and its impact on Imran Khan’s political future.