1. Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, founders of PTI, were sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets.
2. The cipher case involves a missing diplomatic cable from Khan’s possession, which he claims was part of a conspiracy against him.
3. The special court’s decision follows the registration of the case by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency in August, citing a violation of secret laws.
Islamabad, Jan 30: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, founders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have been handed a 10-year prison sentence for leaking state secrets in the cipher case by a special court in Pakistan.
The cipher case revolves around a missing diplomatic cable from Khan’s possession, with Khan alleging that it pointed to a conspiracy to remove him from the prime minister’s office.
Ten witnesses, brought by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), recorded statements against Khan and Qureshi, accusing them of violating the country’s secret laws by revealing details of official diplomatic communication.
In December, Pakistan’s Supreme Court granted post-arrest bails to Khan and Qureshi.
Although Imran remained detained in other cases, Qureshi’s anticipated release was delayed as he was reportedly manhandled and re-arrested in a new case on May 9.
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Imran Khan, ousted as the Prime Minister of Pakistan through a vote of no-confidence in April 2022, had been sentenced to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case on August 5, 2023.
Although his sentence was suspended by the Islamabad High Court, he was arrested in the cipher case and remained in the Attock jail on judicial remand.
