PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressing a press conference in this undated picture

Big news from Islamabad: PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi got arrested at his home on Saturday, August 19, 2023. This arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation into a cipher that the PTI alleges contained a threat from the United States to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan from power.

The arrest was confirmed by Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti during an interview on the Geo News program "Naya Pakistan." Bugti stated that Qureshi was taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) due to his involvement in the cipher case.

Qureshi's arrest occurred shortly after he held a press conference where he denied reports of internal party conflicts aimed at replacing the incarcerated PTI chief, Imran Khan. The PTI has confirmed that Qureshi was apprehended at his residence and is now being transported to the FIA headquarters in the federal capital.

The arrest follows closely after PTI chief Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Attock Jail for his involvement in the Toshakhana case, was named in a First Information Report (FIR) related to the cipher case. The FIR was registered by the FIA under Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act 1923. The FIA's counter-terrorism wing initiated the case after investigating Khan's alleged misuse of a classified document, leading to his ousting from office through a no-confidence motion in April of the previous year.

The FIA sources disclosed that Qureshi's arrest is linked to PTI chief Khan's statement regarding the cipher probe. The investigation into the controversial US cipher has intensified since Khan's principal secretary, Azam Khan, admitted before a magistrate and the FIA that the former prime minister had utilized the US cipher for political gains. Azam Khan revealed that the cipher was employed to shape a narrative against both the establishment and the opposition, exploiting the notion of foreign involvement.

The cipher controversy arose on March 27, 2022, just days before Khan's removal from power. Khan presented a letter, claiming it was a cipher from a foreign nation, suggesting his government's removal. Subsequently, he identified the United States as the sender and mentioned Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu's involvement. The cipher reportedly discussed a meeting between former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed, and Lu.

Khan's removal prompted the National Security Council (NSC) to address the matter, leading to the issuance of a "strong demarche" to the country for interference in Pakistan's internal affairs. Following this, a meeting of the NSC convened by then-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif found no evidence of a foreign conspiracy within the cipher.

This arrest adds a new dimension to the ongoing cipher case, shedding light on the intricate connections between political narratives, internal dynamics, and international relations. The investigations are expected to continue as more details emerge in this complex and evolving situation.

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