Special prosecutors team to probe ‘lost’ US cypher issue

The government has decided to constitute a special team of prosecutors on the issue of “lost” US cypher, which was allegedly “misplaced” by PTI Chairman Imran Khan when he was the prime minister, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

Quoting its sources, the TV channel reported that the three-member team would consist of Advocate Shah Khawar, Rizwan Abbasi and Zulfiqar Naqvi.

They further disclosed that in this connection, the interior ministry had already forwarded a summary to the law ministry.

The sources informed that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had recommended formation of the team.

On Wednesday, the FIA had interrogated PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Attock Jail in connection with a diplomatic cable that had allegedly gone missing from his possession. The FIA had expedited proceedings against the former prime minister for making public a confidential diplomatic cable and keeping it in his possession.

Also yesterday, the FIA’s Counter-Terrorism Wing had registered a case against the PTI chief for allegedly misplacing the cypher.

Last month, on July 25, Imran had appeared before a JIT formed to investigate the cypher case and was quizzed for nearly two hours in the case.

The former prime minister has been under increased scrutiny following the publication of a copy of the secret cable by a US outlet and the statement made by his former principal secretary Azam Khan.

Former interior minister Rana Sanaullah had said that Imran could be tried under the Official Secrets Act if a copy of the cypher was lost.

The FIA was initially quizzing Imran for revealing the contents of a confidential diplomatic cable and keeping it in his possession.

However, after the disclosure made by former principal secretary Azam Khan that the cypher had gone missing from the custody of Imran, the investigation agency also started looking into this aspect.

Azam stated that he had handed over the cypher to the former prime minister who later told him that he had lost it.

Denying all these claims, PTI chairman has said the cypher lies securely in the Foreign Office.

 

Reporter: Awais Kiani