Imran says will name ex-general, US embassy officials as witnesses in cipher case

Imran says will name ex-general, US embassy officials as witnesses in cipher case
Source: File Photo

Islamabad (Web Desk): Former premier Imran Khan on Monday said that Incarcerated former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan Monday said he will include former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and United States (US) embassy officials as witnesses in his defence in the cipher case.

In an informal conversation with journalists on the occasion of the hearing of the case in Adiala Jail, the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman said that General Bajwa did everything on Donald Lu's directives.”

Khan predicted that his party would win the February 8 polls, adding that he was arrested under a plan.

The former premier predicted that his party would win the February 8 polls, adding that he was arrested under a plan.

Imran claimed he was afraid his opponent would run away from the polls due to the masses' sentiment.

He said that Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan after the London Plan.

The former premier also said that he did not face any difficulties in jail.
Refuting the allegations put forward against him by Bushra Bibi's ex-husband Khawar Maneka,

Imran Khan said that he saw his wife's face for the first time after their nikkah.
The former premier also claimed that Bushra's children were being pressurised to give a statement against their mother.

Imran Khan said that he was thankful to some PTI leaders for leaving the pary.

Earlier today, the special court announced it will indict former premier Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case on December 12.

Judge Zulqarnain resumed hearing the case at the Adiala Jail. During the hearing , Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were provided with copies of the case record after their lawyers requested for the same.

The judge then adjourned the hearing till December 12 and said charges would be framed against the PTI leaders of the same day.

It is pertinent to mention that the trial was being held at Adiala Jail and four witnesses had already recorded their statements, with the fifth being cross-examined when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had nullified the August 29 notification for a jail trial. Later the special court started a fresh trial.

Last week, Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain ruled that the trial proceedings would continue at the Adiala Jail but in an open court.

In August of this year, Khan and Qureshi were booked under the Official Secrets Act 1923 in the cipher case after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) invoked Section 5 of the said law.

Former premier Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, both are in Adiala jail, were indicted in the case on Oct 23. Both have pleaded not guilty.

The cipher was about former Pakistan ambassador to the US Majeed's meeting with Lu.

The former prime minister, claiming that he was reading contents from the cipher, said that "all will be forgiven for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power".

Later, after his removal, then-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif’ cabinet gave the green signal to initiate action against the former prime minister and handed over the case to the FIA.