Aitzaz slams 'persecution' of Imran in cypher case

Esteemed lawyer points out deliberate intent to indict former premier

LAHORE:

Former senator and esteemed lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan made pointed allegations on Tuesday about a bias aimed at penalising former prime minister Imran Khan in the cypher case, alleging that "it seems they are adamant on punishing him".

Ahsan criticised the case, deeming it feeble and filled with anomalies manufactured out of thin air. "This is a cryptic letter penned in a specialised language, originally intended for the army chief. It holds no substance. Where is a secret in it?" he questioned while speaking to journalists. "When you object vehemently, it implies an admission of the letter's authenticity."

His statement came a day after a special court seized with the cypher trial of Imran Khan decided to indict him and his aide Shah Mehmood Qureshi on December 12 for alleged breach of the official secrets law, whereas the PTI leader has requested the judge to summon the former army chief and a US diplomat to record their statements in connection with the case.

Read Aitzaz Ahsan terms military courts 'slaughterhouses'

Mocking the caretaker premier's self-perception as the legitimate prime minister, Aitzaz referred to the caretaker government as the "N-government," adding it feared Imran's resistance as he was not "grovelling". Similarly, he pointed out similar bias in the handling of the Toshakhana case, saying there is a long history of receiving gifts without proper valuation, including allegations against previous prime ministers since the times of former prime minister Mohammad Khan Junejo.

Aitzaz clarified that despite his support for Imran Khan during the latter’s challenging period, there's no intention to align with the PTI. He cautioned his party against present actions, cautioning that similar treatment could await them in the future. “I tell my party that I am with Imran Khan as he is being oppressed.”

Commenting on Khawar Maneka's abrupt shift in perspective following his four-month imprisonment, Aitzaz said Maneka's newfound portrayal of negativity towards Bushra Bibi, his former wife, was strange.
Aitzaz remarked on the shared pattern among such individuals, noting, "These individuals follow a familiar trajectory: they vanish, then resurface, and suddenly, their viewpoints transform."