Qureshi, Umar quizzed by JIT in cipher case

Imran Khan likely to appear before FIA-led probe team today

ISLAMABAD:

Two senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Asad Umar – on Monday appeared before a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) led joint investigation team (JIT) that is probing into an alleged manipulation of a classified diplomatic cipher during the PTI rule.

Qureshi, the PTI’s vice chairman who served as the country’s foreign minister from August 2018 to April 2022, arrived at the FIA’s headquarters in the federal capital at 11am. The JIT, which comprises five FIA officials and three representatives of separate intelligence agencies, quizzed the PTI leader for around 2 hours.

Asad Umar, who resigned as the party’s secretary-general on May 20 in the wake of a government crackdown, came to the FIA’s office at 12 noon. The JIT interrogated him for over two hours.

The JIT has also summoned former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan who is likely to appear before the probe team today [Tuesday] at 12 noon.

It is carrying out the investigation on the direction of the federal cabinet which alleges that former PM Imran, his associates and his former principal secretary prejudiced the national security and interest of the state by directly revealing a classified diplomatic cipher without proper authorization.

They allegedly also misused and retained the cipher telegram without due authorization.

On March 27, 2022, ahead of a vote of no-trust that resulted in his ouster, Imran had pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and waved it at the crowd attending a massive public meeting in Islamabad, claiming it was evidence of an “international conspiracy” being hatched to topple his government.

Read 'Political' use of cypher may lead to 14 years in prison, says law minister

Addressing the nation on March 31, 2022, the former premier discussed the "threat letter" that purportedly showed “evidence” of a foreign conspiracy to oust his government.

Then, in what appeared to be a slip of the tongue, he also named the United States as the country behind the threat. "...the letter stated that the no-confidence motion was being tabled even before it was filed, which means the opposition was in contact with them," he alleged.

He said the memo was against him, not against the government. "...it stated that if the no-confidence motion passes, Pakistan will be forgiven. If not, there will be consequences."

Imran Khan had claimed that it was an "official letter that was communicated to Pakistan's ambassador, who was taking notes during the meeting."

Last week, on July 19, Azam Khan, who served as Imran’s principal secretary during his term as the PM, allegedly gave testimony before a magistrate, terming the US cipher a "conspiracy" used by Imran "for creating a narrative against establishment and opposition."

Commenting on the statement of Azam Khan, who had been missing for the last one month, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had said the “confession” of the former principal secretary was a “charge sheet” against the PTI chief.

Qureshi’s media talk

Talking to the media after the interrogation, Qureshi said the cipher was a reality and will remain a reality.  He said generally, the National Security Committee (NSC) meetings are not called to discuss diplomatic ciphers but to discuss the cipher in question, not one but two NSC meetings were conducted.

“Imran Khan had made a very appropriate proposal to have the cipher independently investigated through a judicial commission under the supervision of the Supreme Court but unfortunately that did not happen and an impression was given as if Imran Khan wanted to use the cipher for political mileage.

 “We also called a parliamentary session so that the nation could adopt a joint course of action on this issue but the opposition parties boycotted it,” he said, asking the people as to what should have been the reaction of the prime minister of an honorable nation to such a happening.