Sohail Mehmood's statement in cypher case surfaces

 

The details of former foreign secretary Sohail Mehmood's statement in the cypher case surfaced, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman ordered the foreign secretary to reach Bani Gala in a few minutes, stated Sohail Mehmood.

He added on March 28, the day after the cypher was shown at a public meeting, he was suddenly called to the Bani Gala at 1 o'clock.

He continued: “The former prime minister was present in Bani Gala along with his friends and ministers.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other leaders of Tehreek-e-Insaaf were also present.

“I was given a copy of the cypher and asked to read it aloud.

“I was given the copy to read which was officially handed over to Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

“Many participants of the meeting started to comment on the cypher.

“Minutes of this meeting were not taken.

“It was later discovered that the meeting had been recorded.

“In the Cabinet meeting on April 8, the Law Secretary, the Cabinet Secretary and the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted on not declassifying the cypher.

“On a special note, the Foreign Minister recommended not to make all the texts public.

“If the cypher is decoded, the cypher communication system will be compromised.

“Within hours of the Cipher being waved at a public gathering, the US informed Pakistan of its concern.

“Cabinet members were informed of the legal difficulties of declassifying cyphers in light of the Official Secrets Act.

“There is no tradition of classifying cypher codes in the history of foreign affairs.

“It was said that making the cypher public would damage the relations with the United States and other countries."