The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has declared former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi guilty in the cipher case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.
The FIA submitted its challan to the Special Court which is hearing the cipher case against the former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. The cases against the duo were registered under the Official Secrets Act.
In its challan, the FIA requested the special court to punish Imran and Qureshi after holding their trial in the case.
According to sources, former principal secretary Azam Khan has become a strong witness of the FIA. They further revealed that former federal minister Asad Umar was not included in the FIA’s list of accused.
Statement of 161 and 164 of Azam Khan who is a sworn witness against Imran Khan was attached to the challan.
Sources said that the FIA accused the PTI chairman of keeping the cipher in his possession and misusing the state secret.
It said that Shah Mahmood Qureshi assisted the PTI chairman through his speech delivered on March 27.
Sources said that the FIA has attached the transcript CD of the PTI chairman and Shah Mahmood Qureshi's March 27 speech along with the challan.
The FIA has submitted a list of 28 witnesses to the court along with the challan. 161 statements of 27 witnesses have been attached to the challan after being recorded.
According to the challan submitted to the special court, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed and former foreign secretary Sohail Mehmood are also among the witnesses.
Apart from them, Additional Foreign Secretary Faisal Niaz Timrezi is also among the witnesses of FIA. From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the prime minister, everyone has been included as witness.
Sources said that the copy of the challan in the cipher case is also likely to be provided to the PTI Chairman PTI and Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the next hearing, after which the date of indictment will be fixed.
However, it is not clear whether a copy of Azam Khan's statement will be provided or the lawyers will only be allowed to read it, is the discretion of the court.
Reporter Farzana Siddique