PTI Leader Asad Umar Arrested in Cipher Case, Tensions Escalate
PTI Leader Asad Umar Arrested in Cipher Case
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar's apprehended in connection with the ongoing cipher case, sources reported to Social Media Point News on Sunday. The move follows the recent arrests of senior PTI figures Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Imran Khan as part of the same investigation.
The cipher controversy surfaced on March 27, 2022, as Khan, then prime minister, presented a letter he claimed was from a foreign nation, calling for his government's removal. The identity of the nation was later revealed to be the United States. Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu was alleged to have played a role in this matter.
While the US has consistently denied these allegations, the PTI leaders faced legal action under Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act 1923, based on an FIR registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Asad Umar, a close confidant of Imran Khan, resigned from his positions within the party after his arrest during the May 9 riots, which saw PTI supporters attacking government and military installations. Umar explained his decision, citing his outspoken nature and his inability to issue personal statements while holding office.
The cipher case took a significant turn when former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a National Security Council (NSC) meeting after Khan's removal, concluding that there was no evidence of foreign interference in the cipher. However, the case escalated when Khan's principal secretary, Azam Khan, admitted to providing the cipher for "political gains," claiming that Khan intended to use it to manipulate public perception.
Azam Khan further revealed that the United States cipher was used by Khan during political gatherings, despite his advice to avoid such actions. The former prime minister allegedly intended to exploit the cipher to shift public focus towards alleged "foreign involvement" in opposition movements, particularly a no-confidence motion.
With Asad Umar's arrest, the cipher case continues to attract attention, exposing deeper complexities within Pakistan's political landscape and straining diplomatic relations with the United States.
