Qureshi’s remand extended by three days in Cipher Case

ISLAMABAD: A Special Court, established under the Official Secrets Act, has granted a three-day physical remand for PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in connection with the cipher case.

In the early hours of Friday, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was brought to the special court under tight security measures as part of the ongoing cipher case investigation.

Presiding over the proceedings was Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain Hasnat. The session was held in camera, ensuring confidentiality. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had requested an extension of remand to further probe the case and gather additional information.

After a short recess, the judge acceded to the FIA’s request and placed Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under Sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act of 1923.

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Qureshi’s arrest took place the previous week at his Islamabad residence, following which he was taken to the FIA headquarters for questioning.

According to a copy of the First Information Report (FIR), subsequent to an inquiry initiated based on a complaint lodged by the Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) of the FIA, it was revealed that individuals including Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, along with their associates, were engaged in disseminating information from a confidential classified document to unauthorized individuals.

This act allegedly involved manipulating facts to serve their “ulterior motives” and personal interests, thereby compromising state security concerns.