Imran Khan, ex-Pakistan FM Qureshi acquitted by Pakistan court in cipher case

Former PM Imran Khan acquitted in vandalism cases during anti-government protests, including cipher case, by Pakistani court.

In a major relief for Imran Khan, a top Pakistani court on June 3 acquitted the beleaguered former Prime Minister as well as his Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case.

Mr. Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment along with Mr. Qureshi in the cipher case in January by Islamabad’s special court set up under the Official Secrets Act.

The cipher case pertains to the incident in which the former premier showed a piece of paper — allegedly a copy of a diplomatic communication — at a public rally in Islamabad, claiming it as proof of a conspiracy against his government by a foreign power, referring to U.S. diplomat Donald Lu, who has been at the centre of the cipher controversy.

Mr. Khan had brandished the cipher paper just two weeks before the ouster of the PTI government in April 2022 through a vote of no-confidence in Parliament.

Both Mr. Khan and Mr. Qureshi had challenged the verdict in the Islamabad High Court.

Following the hearing of their pleas on Monday, Islamabad High Court suspended their sentence and ordered that they be released if not wanted in any other case.

Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict.