In partnership with
FIA ARRESTS PTI’S SHAH MAHMOOD QURESHI IN CYPHER PROBE
Profit
Sunday, 20 August, 2023 I 2 Safar, 1445
g
Rs 15.00 | Vol XIV No 50 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
CARETAKER INTERIOR MINISTER CONFIRMS g FIA REGISTERED CASE AGAINST IMRAN AFTER QURESHI WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY ASCERTAINING HIS ‘DELIBERATE INVOLVEMENT’ FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY IN MISUSING CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT
P
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
AKISTAN Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday was arrested from his residence in Islamabad in connection with an investigation into cypher which PTI alleges contained the threat from the United States to oust Imran Khan from power. Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti confirmed later in the day that Qureshi was taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The caretaker minister said Qureshi was arrested as he was nominated in the cipher case. The PTI has also confirmed that the party leader was arrested from his residence and is being moved to the FIA headquarters in the federal capital. The arrest came shortly after Qureshi addressed a presser wherein he dispelled the reports of infighting between party leaders to replace incarcerated party chief Imran Khan. The PTI has also confirmed that the party leader was arrested from his residence and moved to the FIA headquarters in the federal capital. The FIA sources said the PTI leader has been arrested in light of the statement of party chief Khan related to the cipher probe. The development came only two days after PTI chief Khan, who has been imprisoned in Attock Jail, following conviction in Toshakhana case named in a first information report (FIR) registered by the FIA under Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act 1923 in the cipher case. The counter-terrorism wing of the FIA had registered the case against the former prime minister — who was ousted from office after a no-confidence motion in April last year — after ascertaining his deliberate involvement in misusing the classified document follow-
ing a probe. The government sources had also confirmed that the PTI chief has been booked under Section 5 of the recentlyamended act. However, authorities displayed reluctance in sharing a copy of the FIR. Earlier in July this year, the FIA grilled Qureshi and PTI leader Asad Umar for nearly two hours in connection with the probe into controversial US cipher. Qureshi time and again has reiterated that the US cipher was reality, backing the party chief’s claims that the US engineered his ouster from power by supporting then
opposition’s no-confidence motion in April last year. The cipher case against the former premier became serious after his principal secretary Azam Khan stated before a magistrate as well as the FIA that the former PM had used the US cipher for his ‘political gains’ and to avert a vote of no-confidence against him. The former bureaucrat, in his confession, said when he provided the ex-premier with the cipher, he was “euphoric” and termed the language a “US blunder”. The former prime minister, according to Azam, then said that the cable could be used for “creating a narrative against establishment and opposition”. Azam said the US cipher was used in political gatherings by the PTI chairman, despite his advice to him to avoid such acts. He mentioned that the former prime minister also told him that the cipher could be used to divert the public’s attention towards “foreign involvement” in the opposition’s no-confidence motion. The controversy first emerged on March 27, 2022, when Khan — just days before his ouster — brandished a letter, claiming that it was a cipher from a foreign nation, which mentioned that his government should be removed from power. He did not 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 about former Pakistan ambassador to the US Asad Majeed’s meeting with Lu. The former prime minister, claiming that he was reading contents from the cipher, said that “all will be forgiven for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power”.
PTI denounces arrest as ‘illegal, unjustifiable’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Saturday strongly denounced the illegal and unjustifiable arrest of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in connection with the cipher despite his full cooperation with FIA’s JIT regarding the ongoing investigating into the matter. PTI spokesperson, in his strong-worded statement, termed the detention of the PTI Vice Chairman a sheer misuse of the law, the state’s malicious interference in politics and the worst move against human rights. He said that the caretaker government was following the footsteps of the criminal PDM government and was advancing the agenda of lawlessness and fascism in the country. PTI spokesperson stated that there was no justification of arresting Qureshi, who was fully cooperating with the JIT and even appeared officially on July 24. He went on to say that Qureshi in his press confer-
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
be prosecuted under electronic crime. OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT BILL: According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill – it is imperative to amend the Official Secrets Act 1923 and make it more effective in view of the changing social milieu to ensure safety and security of official documents. Section 3 of the bill stated that a person shall commit an offence if he inten-
LONDON
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has summoned the party leadership of Lahore to London, whereas former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif is also likely to travel to London tomorrow (Sunday). Media reports said that Saiful Malook Khokhar and President Youth Wing Lahore Malik Faisal will leave for London tomorrow and will present a report to Nawaz Sharif on organisational structure of Punjab capital. Meanwhile, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif is also likely to travel to London tomorrow (Sunday). The former prime minister will be accompanied by Marriyum Aurangzeb, sources claimed. During his visit, Shehbaz Sharif will also meet his brother Nawaz Sharif and other leaders. The top leadership will deliberate on Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan, sources claimed, adding that PMLN’s legal team will also attend the meeting.
PPP demands ECP to hold elections within 90 days
ence on Saturday exposed the worst state fascism against the PTI leaders and workers of before the nation. PTI Spokesperson said that Qureshi’s real and sole crime was expressing unequivocal and unwavering confidence in Imran Khan’s leadership, adding that Qureshi announced that Imran Khan was the chairman of PTI, is the chairman and will remain the chairman for life. He stated that PTI Vice Chairman also presented the road map of legal and political resistance to the attempts to defer the polls beyond the constitutionally permitted timeframe of 90 days in the light of the unanimous decision of the party. PTI spokesperson stated that the arrest of Vice Chairman was the worst attempt to create leadership crisis in PTI and to paralyze the relationship between the leadership and the workers.
President Alvi signs Army Act (Amend), Official Secrets Act bills into law
President Arif Alvi on Saturday signed the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023 as well Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which were passed by the Parliament during the tenure of the outgoing coalition government. ARMY ACT BILL: According to the contents of the bill, unauthorized disclosure of information obtained in the interest of national security and interest in the official capacity will be severely punished for up to five years, the disclosure with the permission of the Army Chief or the empowered officer will not be punished. The bill also said that officials that fall under the law will not be able to participate in political activities within two years of retirement, resignation or dismissal. According to the bill, a person involved in electronic crime, whose purpose is to defame the Pakistan Army, will
Nawaz Sharif summons PML-N’s Lahore leadership to London
tionally for any purpose “approaches, inspects, passes over or is in the vicinity of, or enters, attacks, destroys or otherwise undermines any prohibited place” “The person shall commit an offence if he intentionally for any purpose makes any sketch, plan, model, or note which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy,” it added.
KARACHI STAFF REPORT
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
It further stated that a person shall commit an offence if he obtains, collects, records or publishes or communicates to any other person any secret official code or password, or any electronic or modem device, sketch, plan which is calculated to be or might be useful to an enemy of the State. Meanwhile, amendment of Section 9 stated that any person who incites to commit, conspires to commit, attempts to commit, shall be liable to punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to one million, or both. Under the bill, the investigating officer will be from Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the said officer will be appointed by DG FIA, and a joint investigation team can also be formed if necessary. The amendment bill also granted intelligence agencies powers to conduct warrantless searches ‘anywhere and anytime’.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold general elections within 90 days as per the Constitution. Provincial president PPP Sindh Senator Nisar Khuhro along with party leaders Senator Waqar Mehdi and Saeed Ghani while addressing a press conference on Saturday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to reconsider the decision to complete delimitation process by December and said holding general election within 90 days was a constitutional requirement. According to the Constitution, the Election Commission is bound to hold the elections within 90 days after dissolution of assemblies before completing 5 years term, Nisar Khuhro said and added that Pakistan cannot afford delay in elections. PPP leaders demanded the Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner to review the decision regarding the duration of delimitation of Constituencies and hold elections on time. Senator Khuhro said Assemblies were dissolved two days prior to give 90 days time to ECP for completing delimitation process therefore Chief Election Commissioner must take initiative for holding election as per constitution. He said that new voter lists should be made under the new census, while there is no need for changes in the constituencies. On this occasion, Pakistan Democratic Party’s leader Bisharat Mirza along with his party colleagues announced participation in Pakistan People’s Party. Irtaza Baig, Khalid Parvez, Ghulam Sabir, Abdul Hakeem, Muhammad Saleem, Tariq Hassan, Waqar Shaikh and others were among those who joined PPP. Senator Nisar Khuhro, Waqar Mehdi and Saeed Ghani welcomed Basharat Mirza and his colleagues on joining Pakistan People’s Party.
Indictment of Islamabad DC, SSP fixed in contempt case over Afridi’s arrest ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Islamabad High Court is to indict the federal capital’s deputy commissioner (DC) and senior superintendent of police (SSP) operations on August 28 for arresting Shehryar Afridi in cases pertaining to Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) despite court orders, it emerged on Saturday. The IHC also asked the Islamabad inspector-general of police (IGP) to reveal the names of the relevant officers who gave the ‘source report’ on the basis of which Afridi was arrested. Issuing the written order for contempt of court case against DC Irfan Memon and Operations SSP Jameel Zafar, Justice Babar Sattar stated that the replies submitted by the two and the district court magistrate on show cause notice issued over Afridi’s arrest were unsatisfactory. The court observed that the high court
had annulled the MPO against Afridi in June but the district magistrate issued another order based on a ‘source report’ illegally. It further noted that once the MPO issued by the Rawalpindi DC expired, another MPO was issued by the Islamabad DC. The court observed that prima facie it appears that the Islamabad DC violated the orders of this court. The DC belittled the justice system by implying that court orders are not binding for the city administration, noted Justice Sattar, adding that the district magistrate could submit another reply elaborating on the matter if he so wishes. The court further observed that SSP Operations also violated the IHC’s orders and appeared to have treated a ‘source report’ as ‘rubber stamped’. Justice Sattar noted that the incumbent station house officer (SHO) and deputy police officer (DPO) of the relevant police station informed the court that they assumed charge on August 8.
The IHC directed the federal capital’s IGP to inform the court of the SHO and DPO who gave the ‘source report’ in question. The court issued show cause notices to the relevant officials and sought replies by the next hearing. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Afridi and Shandana Gulzar were detained on May 16 during a massive crackdown against the former ruling party. The authorities had launched the crackdown after alleged PTI supporters vandalized and set fire to state and army properties and memorials in retaliation to party chief Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9. Ordering their release on August 16, the court had observed that prima facie it appeared that the detention order issued by a district magistrate had no basis in law. It also appears, the court said, that the detention orders issued in Punjab, the KP and Islamabad had been synchronized in such a way that before or at the time of expiry, withdrawal or setting aside of a detention order, a subsequent order was issued like clockwork
to keep the petitioner in detention. At the hearing on August 16, the court
had allowed the state time to submit its reply over the repeated detention of Afridi.