PTI's Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrested in cipher case, booked under Official Secrets Act

He is being shifted to FIA headquarthers for interrogation

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is nominated in a case related to cipher controversy, in federal capital.

The former foreign minister, sources said, was taken into custody from his residence in Islamabad and will be shifted to the FIA’s heardquarters. It is recealled Mr Qureshi had recorded his statement in the cipher case.

The developments come shortly after the PTI stalwart held a press conference wherein he slammed the government for unjust action against the PTI leaders and workers.

He also hit out at the government over late night action against the PTI leader Usman Dar in Sialkot, saying his house was sealed in midnight and family members were forced out of it.

He said factories owned by Mr Dar had also been sealed, leaving hundreds of people unemployed. If transparent elections are possible in such environment? he questioned the caretaker government and the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He also called for timely action in the country, saying various sections in the country have expressed their concerns in this regard.

The former minister also rejected the reports of cracks within the PTI’s core committee.

Qureshi Booked Under Official Secrets Act

The PTI vice president was booked after a first information report (FIR) was registered against him and PTI chief under Official Secrets Act on August 15 for making the contents of the diplomatic cipher public for political scoring.

The PTI chief has been accused of sharing the content of the classified cipher to unauthorised persons and misrepresenting the facts the vested interests by putting the state security at risk.

It said the former premier and Qureshi held secret meetings at Bani Galan residence in March last year when they conspired to distort the content of the classified document.

The FIR said the PTI chief illegally kept a copy of cipher, which was sent by the then Pakistan ambassador to the US, with "malafide intention". It added the former premier had not sent the copy back to the Foreign Office.

It added that such actions by the accused persons directly/indirectly benefited the interest of foreign powers, besides serving damages to Pakistan.

The FIR said the role of the former principal secretary Azam Khan will be ascertained during of investigation into the case. -- What is Cipher gate --

The issue arose first time when the former prime minister dipslayed a letter during a public meeting in the federal capital on March 27 2022, claiming that it was a cipher from a foreign nation, which mentioned that his government should be removed from power.

He, however, didn't reveal the contents of the letter nor mention the name of the nation that had sent it. But a few days later, he named the United States and said that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had sought his removal.

The cipher was on former Pakistan ambassador to the US Asad Majeed's meeting with LU.

The ex-premier claimed he was reading contents from the cipher, saying that "all will be forgiven for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power".