PTI says cabinet meet proves 'cipher a reality'

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a news conference said that the official summary of the federal cabinet meeting “accepted” the cipher that the ousted ruling party claims prove US-backed alleged conspiracy to topple its government.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was given a nod of approval earlier on Sunday by the cabinet to investigate the ‘diplomatic cipher’ audio leaks, wherein the former government high-ups allegedly discussed how would they “play” on the cipher issue.

A cabinet committee was constituted on September 30 to discuss the proceedings regarding the audio leaks featuring the PTI chairman and his party leaders, including General-Secretary Asad Umar, then personal secretary Azam Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Read Nawaz calls for aggressively dealing with cipher narrative

The committee recommended legal action in a meeting held yesterday, with proposals presented in the form of a summary before the cabinet for approval.

Responding to the unfolding controversy, Qureshi told the media today that "these are the same people that used to say that this [cipher] is a made-up thing that was prepared in the foreign office and bears no truth value. Today at least one matter is settled that our stance-which we held from the beginning- that the cipher is a reality”.

"They have decided to open an investigation," he stated, "by all means, go right ahead".

"We feel no discomfort whatsoever," he said as he asserted that the party had done "nothing to hurt Pakistan or Pakistan's interests".

"By the grace of God we have honestly served this country," the PTI leader added as he vowed to continue to "serve the country until we breathe our last".

Party senior leader Fawad Chaudhry also welcomed the government's approval to take legal action against Imran and other PTI leaders.

"Let's investigate", he said in a tweet.