Cipher case: PTI chairman, vice-chairman likely to be indicted tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi are likely to be indicted in the cipher case on Monday.

The hearing of the cipher case will take place in the special court headed by Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain in Adiala jail.

Previously, the indictement had been set for October 17. However, at that time, objections were raised by PTI lawyers regarding the non-distribution of the copies of the charge sheet. As a result, the date for the indictment was deferred to October 23.

Both the PTI leaders are currently incarcerated in Adiala jail in connection with the cipher case.

What is the cipher case?

The PTI chairman had accused the US dipolmant of conspiring against his government by sending cipher messages. He alleged that America was behind the ouster of his government. However, during a meeting of the National Security Committee, doubts were cast upon the PTI government’s position on the cipher claim.

Furthermore, an audio leak related to the cipher case, involving the PTI chief and his former secretary Azam Khan, came to light. In the leaked audio, the former prime minister could be heard saying, “Now we just need to play, we don’t have to take the name of America. We just need to play on this data.”

In response, Azam Khan said, “I was thinking of having a meeting on this cipher matter.”

Subsequently, the PDM-led federal cabinet referred the matter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for an inquiry.