During today’s court session concerning the cipher case, the issue was raised about whether Azam Khan had provided a copy of a specific document and its current status.
Salman Safdar, representing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, clarified that it was not within the scope of the prosecution’s evidence to determine whether the Prime Minister had received the document. He further explained that according to Azam Khan, the cipher copy was allegedly misplaced from the Prime Minister’s office, after which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was notified of the loss.
Chief Justice Amir Farooq inquired about the date Azam Khan received the cipher copy. Prosecutor Hamid Ali Shah responded that Khan received the document on March 8, and it was subsequently handed to Imran Khan the following day. Salman Safdar highlighted concerns regarding the mishandling of the cipher copy given on March 9, noting that turning the accused into a witness further complicates the legal proceedings. He also mentioned that four government witnesses can attest that the cipher copy was delivered to Azam Khan.
During the proceedings, Safdar expressed concerns that the courtroom was being manipulated for political purposes, noting that mishandling or loss of cipher documents should trigger a standard inquiry protocol within the Foreign Office rather than be immediately deemed criminal negligence.
The discussion took a more critical turn when Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb questioned the gravity of the charges, suggesting they appeared more sensational than substantive. In response, Safdar accused the proceedings of displaying political bias, particularly highlighting differential treatment meted out to members of the PTI based on their party affiliations.
This legal encounter underscores the complex challenges of managing sensitive government documents. It illustrates how deeply intertwined legal and political issues can become, especially in cases involving high-profile figures and national security concerns.
