Cipher Case Imran, Qureshi Sentenced To 10 years In Jail
January 30, 2024 / By Zunair Tahir / Pakistan News
In the cipher case, a special court created under the Official Secrets Act on Tuesday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to ten years in prison.
The Federal Investigation Agency’s charge sheet in the cipher case claims that Imran never returned a diplomatic document. The PTI has always maintained that the paper was a threat to remove Imran from office as prime minister from the United States.
The PTI is running in the general elections on February 8th despite a state crackdown on the party and without an electoral symbol; the ruling was rendered little over a week ago.
Imran was found guilty in the Toshakhana case on August 5 and given a three-year jail sentence. This is his second conviction. The sentence has been suspended by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Imran had, however, later had his request for the conviction to be suspended denied by a division bench.
However, Qureshi has never had a conviction before.
Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain of the Special Court rendered the decision in the matter. Imran and Qureshi were given a questionnaire in accordance with Section 342 of the Pakistan Penal Code at the beginning of the hearing.
Imran said, “I have said the same in my statement that I do not know,” when the court questioned him where the cipher was after he had recorded his statement. I had the cipher in my office.
Imran said, “I have said the same in my statement that I do not know,” when the court questioned him where the cipher was after he had recorded his statement. I had the cipher in my office.
The two were subsequently given prison terms ranging from 10 years to life by the judge.
The judge then exited the courtroom after pronouncing the judgment, to which Qureshi objected that his statement had not been recorded.
A PTI official said that Pakistan supported Imran and Qureshi “who defended Pakistan and stood for ‘haqeeqi azadi’” in a post on X.
The statement went on, “No such sham trial can change what happened in March-April 2022, on Donald Lu’s orders.”
“A total mockery and disdain for the law in the cipher case shall not cause us to lose sight of our primary duty to provide Imran and Qureshi justice.”
In the message, it was requested that people cast ballots on February 8.
It ended, “This sentence will be (thrown) in the dustbin in the appeal stage, and God willing, Kaptaan and vice Kaptaan will be back soon.”
PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan encouraged party members to “remain calm and not indulge in any activity that undermines our traditional stance of a peaceful struggle” shortly after the ruling was made public.
“We intend to appeal this decision in a higher court and carry on with our legal battle,” he said. “We will not let the current Kangaroo Court ruling stop us from adhering to this principle, no matter what,” he continued.
“To guarantee that PM Imran Khan’s nominated candidates are returned to the assemblies with a resounding majority, we should harness and channel these energies for the polling day on February 8,” he stated.
A mock trial. Shameful choice. It’s going to be the opposite. Avoid stepping into their trap. Taimur Jhagra of the PTI stated, “Our first response will be our vote on February 8th.”
In October, the case saw the initial indictment of the former prime minister and Qureshi, who is incarcerated. They had entered not guilty pleas. The government’s notification of a prison trial was deemed “erroneous” by the IHC, which canceled the whole process.
Due to the previously assigned defense attorneys who had consented to lead cross-examinations not showing up for the next two court sessions, state defense attorneys were appointed last week.
Imran had declared that the trial was a “joke” since the government owned both the prosecution and the defense.
