Islamabad: Pakistan will initiate criminal proceedings against the former prime minister Imran Khan Accused of revealing official secrets, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday, the latest in a string of cases the former prime minister is facing.
The case pertains to diplomatic correspondence between Washington and Islamabad, which Khan described early last year as part of a US plot to topple his government. Washington has denied involvement in any such conspiracy.
The decision was taken after the death of Khan’s former principal secretary. Aajam Khan Sanaullah said that on Wednesday a statement was recorded in the court to the effect that Khan manipulated an American diplomatic encrypted letter in March 2022 to meet his political goals.
The 70-year-old former cricket hero lost power in April 2022 in a no-confidence motion, which he says Washington joined after his visit to Moscow.
Shortly after being removed from office, Khan waved a piece of paper at a public meeting, saying he had a copy of a secret diplomatic letter that said Russia would have dire consequences if it got too close.
Khan traveled to Moscow on the eve of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sanaullah said that the principal secretary also testified that when Khan asked him to return the letter, he told that he had lost the copy of the letter.
The interior minister said, “It is a crime to reveal an official secret.” He said the state would file charges against Khan in the court.
He said, “I don’t think he has lost the copy. It is still with him. It has to be recovered from him.”
Khan said he did not believe his former secretary could testify against him. After a court hearing in another case, he told reporters, “I won’t accept it until I hear it directly from him.”
In a tweet on Wednesday evening, Khan said, “In their desperate attempts to disqualify me and implicate me in any case to send me to jail, this current bunch of incompetent scoundrels have again shot themselves in the foot. He has given me an opportunity.” To properly expose this whole cipher drama.”
Khan said, “Tomorrow I will share uncensored information on how the conspiracy to overthrow the best economic performing government in the last 17 years and bring to power these money launderers and crooks who have brought the country to the bottom has come to light.” “
The secrecy allegation is the latest of several charges against Khan since his ouster, including corruption, murder and sedition.
The case pertains to diplomatic correspondence between Washington and Islamabad, which Khan described early last year as part of a US plot to topple his government. Washington has denied involvement in any such conspiracy.
The decision was taken after the death of Khan’s former principal secretary. Aajam Khan Sanaullah said that on Wednesday a statement was recorded in the court to the effect that Khan manipulated an American diplomatic encrypted letter in March 2022 to meet his political goals.
The 70-year-old former cricket hero lost power in April 2022 in a no-confidence motion, which he says Washington joined after his visit to Moscow.
Shortly after being removed from office, Khan waved a piece of paper at a public meeting, saying he had a copy of a secret diplomatic letter that said Russia would have dire consequences if it got too close.
Khan traveled to Moscow on the eve of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sanaullah said that the principal secretary also testified that when Khan asked him to return the letter, he told that he had lost the copy of the letter.
The interior minister said, “It is a crime to reveal an official secret.” He said the state would file charges against Khan in the court.
He said, “I don’t think he has lost the copy. It is still with him. It has to be recovered from him.”
Khan said he did not believe his former secretary could testify against him. After a court hearing in another case, he told reporters, “I won’t accept it until I hear it directly from him.”
In a tweet on Wednesday evening, Khan said, “In their desperate attempts to disqualify me and implicate me in any case to send me to jail, this current bunch of incompetent scoundrels have again shot themselves in the foot. He has given me an opportunity.” To properly expose this whole cipher drama.”
Khan said, “Tomorrow I will share uncensored information on how the conspiracy to overthrow the best economic performing government in the last 17 years and bring to power these money launderers and crooks who have brought the country to the bottom has come to light.” “
The secrecy allegation is the latest of several charges against Khan since his ouster, including corruption, murder and sedition.