Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi Indicted in Cipher Case

A special court in Pakistan has indicted Imran Khan who is the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the Vice Chairman of PTI, in a cipher case registered under the Official Secrets Act. The case was heard at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.

The PTI leaders had previously filed a complaint to cancel the arrest, but the judge rejected their requests,and that the hearing was scheduled for the indictment.

Following the indictment, the next steps in the legal process involve framing charges, recording prosecution evidence, and initiating the trial. The court has issued notices to witnesses to appear on October 27, and the hearing has been adjourned until then.

Both Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The cipher case centers around a diplomatic cable that reportedly went missing from Imran Khan’s possession. According to the former ruling party, the cable contained a threat from the US to topple the PTI’s government. Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi are currently in Adiala jail on judicial remand for this case.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed a charge sheet which indicates that Khan and Qureshi were found guilty and requesting the court to conduct their trial. The case also involves former PTI secretary-general Asad Umar and Khan’s former principal secretary Azam Khan as witnesses.


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The controversy, known as “cipher case ,” began in March 2022 when Imran Khan claimed that a foreign nation had conspired with his political rivals to overthrow the PTI government. He accused the United States of involvement, citing a cipher about a meeting between Pakistan’s ambassador to the US and a US official.


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The case has had several developments, including audio leaks and a committee set up to investigate the matter. The Lahore High Court recalled a stay order against FIA summons to Imran Khan.