ISLAMABAD:
On Tuesday, former federal minister Asad Umar went to a special court in Islamabad designated for instances addressing complaints filed under the Official Secrets Act and was granted a pre-arrest release in the leaked cipher case until August 29.
Umar denied media claims of his detention by the FIA as he spoke to reporters outside the court.
Former premier Imran Khan had pulled out a piece of paper — allegedly the cypher — from his pocket and waved it at a public gathering in Islamabad on March 27, 2022, claiming it was evidence of a “international conspiracy” being hatched to topple his government. This vote of no-confidence ultimately led to Khan’s ouster.
The cypher problem never went away, but it has just been brought back into the spotlight after being published in a US magazine.
Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi have been arrested under Pakistan’s new Official Secrets Act as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launches an investigation into the “disappearance” of the diplomatic cipher.
Notably, the FIA-led JIT investigating the suspected manipulation of a sensitive diplomatic cipher during PTI control had hearings with Qureshi and Asad Umar last month.
The former cabinet has requested that the JIT look into allegations that the deposed prime minister, his associates (including Qureshi), and his former principal secretary compromised national security and interest by disclosing diplomatic ciphers without authorization.
A large police contingent eventually apprehended Qureshi at his Islamabad home. According to a spokeswoman for the Islamabad Police, the FIA has arrested the former FM.
According to sources quoted by The Express Tribune, the FIA’s counter-terrorism branch has opened an investigation into Imran Khan over the “missing cypher,” triggering the law’s worst penalties.
It also claims that they kept the cipher telegram after they weren’t supposed to.
On Monday, it was revealed that all charges filed anywhere in the country under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 will be heard by ATC-I Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.
This trial will be conducted in private.
On June 27th, Judge Zulqarnain was assigned to the position of ATC-1 Judge by the Ministry of Law and Justice. In light of the ministry’s announcement, the judge was ordered to report to his new position on July 3 and remain there until December 8, 2025.
Umar appeared in court this morning, and the judge granted him interim bail until August 29. Bail was set at Rs100,000 with surety bonds allowed.
His legal team said the persecution was politically motivated and an attempt to extort or harass him. The claims made against him were described as “baseless” in the application, and he had pledged to assist investigators.Appellate Court Releases Defendant
Umar’s bail in the Sangjani Police Department case was extended by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) until October 12.
Notably, Asad Umar and other ex-party officials were booked at the Sangjani police station on many counts, including terrorism, obstructing justice, and damage.
Protests had erupted when former prime minister Imran was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), prompting the filing of the proceedings.
Umar had already pleaded for the dismissal of terrorism charges related to his demonstrations outside the ECP headquarters.
Today, same matter was also heard by local judge Zulqarnain. Umar and his attorney Babar Awan went to the ATC court and were granted bail till October 12.
