"The "cipher" has once again become a focal point in Pakistani politics, as a special court operating under the Official Secrets Act handed down a 10-year jail sentence on Tuesday to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. This case, now widely recognized as a high-profile "cipher case," centers around alleged violations of the Official Secrets Act. The details of the charges and the evidence presented in court would be crucial to understanding the specific nature of the accusations against Khan and Qureshi."
What Is Cipher?
In the context mentioned, a "cipher" refers to a secret method of encoding or writing sensitive messages in coded language. Specifically, in the legal and diplomatic context, it involves the use of a coded system to communicate confidential or classified information. In the case discussed, the allegation revolves around the disclosure of the cipher of a sensitive diplomatic document under the Official Secrets Act, suggesting the unauthorized sharing of a method to decode and understand the contents of the document.
This case revolves around an alleged mishandling of a diplomatic document by Imran Khan, with claims suggesting it contained a threat from the United States to remove him from office.
Controversy ensued after the former premier asserted a conspiracy against him, sparking a high-profile legal battle. The special court resumed the Cipher trial at Adiala district jail, indicting Imran and Qureshi for the second time on December 13.
Legal proceedings faced challenges and controversies. Initially indicted in October, Imran and Qureshi faced setbacks when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) deemed the government's notification for a jail trial as "erroneous," leading to the annulment of the proceedings.
Last week, state defense counsels were appointed due to the absence of previously assigned ones. Imran, critical of the trial, labeled it a "joke" as both the prosecution and defense teams belonged to the government.
In this context, a "cipher" refers to a secret method of writing sensitive messages in coded language. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) alleged that Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi disclosed the cipher of a sensitive diplomatic document under the Official Secrets Act.
The encrypted document, challenging to decode, reportedly contained details of a meeting between US State Department officials and the then Pakistani ambassador, Asad Majeed Khan.
The controversial document outlined a meeting on March 7, 2022, between US officials and Asad Majeed Khan. Although the complete text remains undisclosed under the Official Secrets Act, The Intercept reproduced a section, revealing a threatening message sent by the US through Pakistan's envoy.
This revelation coincided with political maneuvers against Imran, culminating in his ousting after a successful no-confidence vote.
Imran initially spoke about the secret document on March 27, 2022, presenting it at a gathering in Islamabad as evidence of an international conspiracy against him. He later claimed that the US had sent a threatening message through Pakistan's envoy. Despite Imran's allegations, the US State Department has consistently denied encouraging Pakistani officials to remove him from office.
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