ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan urged for the prosecution of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's military secretary in the diplomatic cable controversy.
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House, here on Monday, Ayub, accompanied by PTI's newly elected chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, emphasized that it was the responsibility of the then-prime minister's military secretary to safeguard the cipher documents.
"If legal action is pursued, it should be directed against these individuals [military secretary]," Ayub stated. In January 2024, PTI founder Imran Khan and senior party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi were each sentenced to ten years in prison in connection with the cipher case.
Addressing the issue, the PTI leader demanded a "judicial inquiry" into the ciphergate scandal. Reacting to the speech by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in the lower house of parliament, Ayub criticized Bhutto-Zardari's use of unparliamentary language and asserted that he lacked understanding of the cipher mechanism.
Meanwhile, Barrister Gohar emphasized the party's determination to move forward despite challenges. He criticized the ruling eight-party alliance, labeling them as "crisis-ridden" and asserting their inability to navigate the country out of its difficulties.
Responding to remarks made by the PPP chairman regarding the cipher case and the former prime minister, Asad Qaiser called for the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the matter. Qaiser mocked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), labeling their allegations against Imran as "lies."
Expressing concern over the alleged crackdown on party leadership and workers, Qaiser stressed Imran Khan's refusal to flee amidst the crackdown and legal issues, affirming that neither he nor the party would compromise on their principles. He demanded the release of party leadership and withdrawal of cases against top leaders, including Imran's wife, Bushra Bibi.
In response to Bilawal's call for stakeholders to engage in dialogue, Qaiser questioned Bilawal's knowledge of the extensive election rigging during the February 8 polls, dubbing it as the worst in the country's history.
The ciphergate controversy surfaced on March 27, 2022, when Imran Khan, shortly before his ousting in April 2022, alleged a foreign conspiracy against his government. He accused the United States of interference and claimed a letter revealed the conspiracy. The matter was further discussed in subsequent meetings, and later, audio leaks allegedly revealed discussions about the cipher. The case led to the indictment and subsequent sentencing of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in January 2024.
