ISLAMABAD: A particular courtroom on Monday prolonged by two days the bodily remand of Pakistan’s former overseas minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in reference to the leakage of a confidential diplomatic cable that was allegedly misused for political functions by the earlier Imran Khan-led authorities. Qureshi, 67, a detailed aide of jailed former prime minister Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) occasion’s Vice Chairman, was arrested on August 19 beneath the Official Secrets and techniques Act for violating the secrecy of the official cable despatched by the Pakistani embassy within the US to the overseas workplace when he was the overseas minister.
The 2-time overseas minister was later remanded by the particular courtroom in Federal Investigation Company’s custody for 4 days until August 25. On Friday, the courtroom prolonged his remand by three days.
On Monday, the FIA offered Qureshi earlier than the particular courtroom and sought an extension of 5 days within the remand of Qureshi.
Particular Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi pleaded with the courtroom that they need to get well his cell phone, Geo Information reported, citing sources.
Nonetheless, Qureshi’s counsel, Babar Awan opposed the request and cited a number of verdicts of the superior judiciary in his defence.
Through the listening to, Awan argued that his shopper had nothing to do with the cipher case and skim out Articles 90 and 91 of the Structure within the courtroom.
Awan maintained that Qureshi had been in remand for the final 9 days. “This is enough,” he mentioned.
On the prosecutor’s demand for an extension in bodily custody to get well the cell phone, Awan advised the choose that Qureshi’s cellular is with FIA and there isn’t any want for additional remand.
After this, Anti-Terrorism Courtroom Choose Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, who has been given extra cost of the particular courtroom, reserved the decision which was introduced later.
Khan has for lengthy talked about the lacking cable as proof of a “foreign conspiracy” to take away him because the prime minister in April final 12 months.
In accordance with a media report final week, the trial of Khan and Qureshi within the cipher case, beneath the Official Secrets and techniques Act, is predicted to begin inside a fortnight.
Official sources mentioned the FIA is attempting to finish the challan by August final week for the initiation of trial within the just lately shaped particular courtroom. The FIA has already arrested each Khan and Qureshi within the case.
Qureshi was overseas minister when the problem of the diplomatic cable erupted.
The purported cipher (secret diplomatic cable) contained an account of a gathering between US State Division officers, together with Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu, and Pakistani envoy Asad Majeed Khan final 12 months.
Of late, Khan has come beneath elevated scrutiny following the publication of a purported copy of the key cable by the US media outlet The Intercept, with many within the earlier authorities led by Shehbaz Sharif pointing fingers on the PTI chief for being the supply of the leak.
Khan, 70, is at present serving a three-year jail time period after he was sentenced by a courtroom in a corruption case earlier this month.