Imran Khan Acquitted in Cipher Controversy

In a major relief for Imran Khan, a top Pakistani court acquitted the former prime minister and his foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case. The Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences, which were initially handed down based on accusations of mishandling a diplomatic cable in March 2022.

In a significant development, Imran Khan, the beleaguered former prime minister of Pakistan, has been acquitted of charges in the cipher case. The top Pakistani court also exonerated Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the former foreign minister.

The Islamabad High Court, under Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, suspended their sentences and ordered their release unless they are implicated in other cases. Khan and Qureshi had initially been imprisoned for 10 years by Islamabad's special court under the Official Secrets Act.

The cipher case revolves around a controversial incident where Khan publicly displayed a piece of paper, alleged to be a diplomatic communication, claiming it as evidence of a foreign conspiracy against his government. This development follows the PTI party's ouster in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. The case was a significant political event and involved testimonies from 25 witnesses, including high-ranking former officials.