ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) questioned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for nearly two hours on Monday as part of the investigation into the controversial US cypher.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who held the position of foreign minister during PTI’s tenure, was summoned by an eight-member FIA team led by FIA Islamabad Zone Director Rana Abdul Jabbar, as he plays a significant role in the cypher saga.
During the interrogation, officers from various FIA divisions and high-ranking officials from three different intelligence institutions were also present. Former PTI secretary general, Asad Umar, also appeared before the FIA team. PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, has also been summoned and is scheduled to appear on July 25.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed that a secret document, referred to as the “cypher,”. It is in the possession of the Chief Justice and has been seen by the President and the Army Chief. The party argued that the supposed confession made by Azam Khan, the former principal secretary to the Prime Minister, is unreliable as it contains numerous inconsistencies.
In a forceful and strongly-worded response to the alleged “confessional statement” made by Azam Khan, The former principal secretary to the Prime Minister who has been missing since June 17, PTI spokesman Rauf Hassan expressed skepticism about the authenticity of the statement. He suggests that Azam Khan may have been coerced into becoming an approver against Imran Khan.
Rauf Hassan pointed out that Azam Khan’s disappearance raises serious concerns. A formal case was registered with the ICT police to locate him, but he remains unaccounted for to this day.
