The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted a nearly two-hour-long interrogation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday. The case in question pertains to the cablegate saga, which involves a cipher containing details of a threat made by the United States against the previous government.
During a public gathering in Islamabad on March 27, 2022, Khan waved a letter, claiming it as evidence of an “international conspiracy” supported by the US to topple his government. As a result, the FIA initiated investigations against the deposed prime minister for allegedly disclosing a confidential diplomatic cable and possessing it.
The investigation agency had summoned Imran Khan after the Lahore High Court withdrew a stay order against the call-up notice. Following the summons, Khan appeared before the joint investigation team of the FIA at its headquarters for questioning.
Additionally, the FIA also interrogated PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi for nearly two hours in connection with the same investigation into the controversial US cipher. As the former foreign minister during PTI’s tenure, Qureshi is a significant figure in the case.
The cipher saga took a new twist when Khan’s former principal secretary, Azam Khan, “recorded” a statement, describing the US cipher as a “conspiracy” orchestrated by the ex-PM to manipulate and create a narrative against the establishment and opposition. Azam, who had been missing for some time, made this statement under CrPC 164 before a magistrate.
In response to Azam Khan’s statement, Imran Khan referred to him as an “honest man” but stated that he would not accept the statement until he heard the bureaucrat speak for himself. The PTI described the statement attributed to Azam as “unverified” and criticized it for being a “set of contradictions.”
The investigation into the cablegate saga remains ongoing, and the FIA is likely to continue its efforts to ascertain the facts surrounding the matter.
The controversy surrounding the cipher first emerged on March 27, 2022, when Imran Khan, shortly before his ouster, presented a letter, claiming it to be a cipher from a foreign nation, suggesting that his government should be removed from power. He did not disclose the contents of the letter or the name of the nation that sent it. However, a few days later, he named the United States and accused Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu of seeking his removal.
The cipher reportedly revolved around a meeting between former Pakistan ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed, and Donald Lu. Imran Khan asserted that the letter stated that all would be forgiven for Pakistan if he was removed from power.
On March 31, the National Security Council (NSC) addressed the matter and decided to issue a strong demarche to the country in question for its apparent interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. However, after his removal from power, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened another NSC meeting, which concluded that there was no evidence of a foreign conspiracy in the cipher.
Subsequently, two audio leaks surfaced, causing a stir and shocking the public. In these leaked recordings, Imran Khan, then-federal minister Asad Umar, and Azam Khan allegedly discussed the US cipher and how to use it to their advantage.
On September 30, the federal cabinet took notice of the audio leaks and established a committee to investigate their contents. In October, the cabinet authorized action against the former prime minister and handed over the case to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Initially, when the FIA summoned Imran, Umar, and other PTI leaders, Imran Khan challenged the summons and obtained a stay order from the court. However, on July 18, the Lahore High Court recalled the stay order against the FIA’s call-up notice to Imran Khan. As a result, the FIA once again issued summons to Khan, Umar, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi for further investigation into the matter.