It has been determined that legal action will be taken under the Official Secrets Act against the Chairman of PTI, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and other individuals involved in the case of a missing cipher. Stringent penalties will be imposed on those found guilty under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a case related to the missing cipher under sections 5, 9 PPC, and Section 34 of the Serious Official Secrets Act, 1923. Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Interior, initiated the case. The Chairman of PTI, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and former Foreign Minister, along with others, have been named in the case.
FIA sources have disclosed that the case was officially filed on August 15. The Chairman of PTI and Vice Chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and other accused individuals are alleged to have irresponsibly leaked sensitive cipher information. Leaking national security and diplomatic secrets is a grave violation of the Official Secrets Act. The case will proceed according to the relevant provisions of the Act.
Efforts are being made to ensure a thorough investigation, leading to severe punishment for those involved. This is intended to convey a strong message against the unwarranted disclosure of vital national secrets in the future.
A senior FIA official emphasized that the unauthorized leaking of the cipher, which was subsequently used for political purposes, has severely damaged Pakistan’s diplomatic standing and national security.
Caretaker Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti affirmed that due to the involvement of Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the Cipher case, he has been arrested by the FIA. The government is resolute in preventing any individuals from taking the law into their own hands.
The FIR (First Information Report) related to the missing cipher has come to light. This FIR, numbered 111/23 and pertaining to the FIA Anti-Terrorism Wing, outlines that the investigation was initiated on October 5, 2022, based on a request from the former Home Secretary, Yousaf Anjum Khokhar. The investigation spanned around ten months.
The FIR details that during the investigation, it was uncovered that former Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, along with associates, were involved in transmitting information from a classified cipher document, known as the Cipher Washington, to the Secretary of State on March 7, 2022.
The FIR notes that these individuals manipulated the information for their political and personal gains, presenting it to unauthorized parties in a manner detrimental to state security. A meeting was held at Bani Gala on March 28, 2022, where the cipher’s details were distorted and publicized for political purposes.
According to the FIR, Imran Khan directed Secretary Azam Khan to alter the meeting minutes, thereby endangering national security for personal benefits. The document remained in their possession and was not sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, constituting criminal actions.
The FIR further states that the classified cipher document is still held by Imran Niazi. This action has compromised national and foreign communications, leading to losses for Pakistan. Foreign powers have also gained indirectly from these actions. The competent authority approved the case registration.
As per the FIR, the FIA Anti-Terrorism Wing has filed a case under the Official Secrets Act against former Prime Minister Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi and former Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi for possessing classified ciphers and exploiting them for personal gains. Charges have been filed under sections 5 and 9 of the 1923 Act and PPC 34.
The role of former principal secretary Azam Khan and former minister Asad Umar is also subject to investigation. Additionally, a recent incident involving the leakage of cipher content for political goals has come to light through a foreign magazine named “Intercept.”
