Imran kept cipher copy, later said it has gone missing: ex-aide

ISLAMABAD: Azam Khan, the former principal secretary of the then prime minister Imran Khan recorded his statement in the cipher case here on Thursday.

The former Principal Secretary testified before the court in cipher case on oath by placing his hand on the Holy Quran and kissing it. The Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain heard the cipher case here in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.

Five witnesses named Anis-ur-Rehman, Javed Iqbal, Hadayat Ullah Muhammad Ashfaq and former Principal Secretary Azam Khan recorded their statements here in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. The court adjourned further hearing of the cipher case till January 22.

The ex-principal secretary said that he received the cipher copy from his staff in March 2022, which he handed over to the prime minister. According to him, the prime minister retained a copy of the cipher and later said it had gone missing. Azam Khan said that the Master Cipher copy was with the foreign ministry and a meeting was held in Banigala where the contents of the copy were read out. It was then decided to present the cipher to the federal cabinet. The cabinet referred the matter to the National Security Committee to determine the appropriate response to the US. In the National Security Committee meeting, a decision was reached to issue a demarche to the concerned country for interfering in Pakistan’s internal affairs, Azam Khan said in his statement.

Furthermore, he explained that the tradition of returning the cipher copy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not fulfilled during his tenure. He indicated that he informed the prime minister, his military secretary, and relevant staff multiple times that the copy of the cipher has not been returned. Thereafter the military secretary, ADC, and staff were tasked with addressing the issue.