No evidence found of Umar’s involvement in cipher case: prosecutor.
A special court established under the Official Secrets Act has approved Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar’s bail in a case related to US cipher after a prosecutor told the judge that his arrest was not required at this stage.
Judge Abul Hasnat Mohammad Zulqarnain conducted the hearing on the PTI leader’s plea seeking pre-arrest bail in the cipher case related to the diplomatic cable that the PTI claimed contained evidence of US involvement in the ouster of the Imran Khan-led government in April last year.
“Asad Umar’s arrest is not required in the case as yet and no evidence against him has been gathered yet,” Special Prosecutor Shah Khawar told the judge.
He further said that Umar would be informed if investigators gathered any evidence against him in the ongoing investigation into the cipher case.
To which, PTI counsel Babar Awan urged the judge to approve Umar’s bail in the case following the prosecution’s response.
After the prosecutor’s statement, the judge approved the PTI leader’s bail against the surety bond of Rs50,000.
Judge Zulqarnain also noted that Umar expressed willingness to join the cipher probe but the prosecution did not investigate him in the case.
“If Asad Umar’s arrest is required, the FIA [Federal Investigation Agency] will proceed according to law,” the judge ordered.
More From FactFile: Judicial remand of Imran Khan & SM Qureshi in cipher case extended till Sept 26
He also directed the FIA to inform the PTI leader in advance before arresting him in the case.
Last month, the FIA booked PTI chief Imran Khan and the party’s vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly misplacing and misusing classified document for vested political interests.
“Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in the secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” read first information report (FIR) registered against the PTI leaders.
Subsequently, both leaders were arrested in connection with the investigation into the case and a special court was established under the Official Secrets Act to try the accused.
A day earlier, the special court extended Imran and Qureshi’s judicial remand till September 26 in the cipher case.
