Qureshi remanded in FIA custody for two days

Court says if progress is not made, PTI leader will not be handed over to authorizes for further remand

ISLAMABAD:

. A special court in Islamabad on Monday remanded PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for two more days in a case related to the allegedly illegal retention and disclosure of a diplomatic cypher.

Qureshi was presented in Islamabad’s Anti-Terrorism Court-1 (ATC), which has been recently declared as the Special Court to hear cases registered under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, amid heightened security.

During the in-camera hearing, Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi requested the presiding judge to remand Qureshi in FIA custody for five more days.  PTI’s lawyers Dr Babar Awan and Shoaib Shaheen opposed the request.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its decision. Subsequently, the court handed over Qureshi to the FIA for a two-day remand. Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain told the FIA that if progress is not made in the case, he will not remand the accused in its custody any more.

Talking to the media on the premises of the capital’s judicial complex, Qureshi said the FIA had no reason to keep him in detention.

“There was no reason to remand me in custody either. This is unfair, and a violation of the law, as the FIA could not provide any evidence in court. My rights are being taken away. Nothing is being proven against me. I have fully cooperated. This is political revenge. I, however, stand my ground,” he said.

Two days earlier, Qureshi had moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC), requesting it to declare the trial court’s orders to remand him in the FIA custody null and void. The PTI vice chairman filed a petition against three orders passed by the trial court on August 20, 21 and 25.

More ‘Missing cypher’ comes to haunt PTI top leadership

 “The Official Secrets Act court's order to give physical remand should be declared null and void," said the petition, further maintaining that "an order for a judicial remand should be passed".

He further stated in his plea that a “malicious case” was filed against him with the “connivance of the federal government” for “political vendetta”.

Last week, the FIA arrested Qureshi from his residence in the federal capital. The agency booked former premier Imran Khan and Qureshi among others for “wrongful use” of official secret information and illegal retention of a cypher telegram, an official secret document, with malafide intention.

The FIR No 6/2023 registered by the FIA counter-terrorism wing (CTW) read that the role of the former prime minister’s principal secretary Azam Khan, ex-planning minister Asad Umar, and other associates involved would be determined during the course of investigations.

The FIA was registered under sections 5 (wrongful communication, etc., of information) and 9 (attempts, incitements, etc.) of the Official Secrets Act of 1923 read with Section 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

 The FIR said the case had been registered upon the conclusion of an enquiry No 111/2023 dated Oct 5, 2022, registered in the FIA’s CTW on the complaint of then interior secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar.