In a cipher investigation, the FIA arrests PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

ISLAMABAD : On Saturday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was detained at his house in Islamabad in connection with a probe into a cipher that the PTI claims included a threat from the US to depose Imran Khan from office.

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti stated to a local news program that Qureshi had been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

According to the caretaker minister Qureshi was detained because he was nominated in the cipher case.

The PTI has also announced that the party leader was apprehended at his home and is being sent to the FIA headquarters in the federal capital.

According to FIA officials, the PTI leader was detained in response to party chairman Khan’s remarks over the cipher inquiry.

The news came only two days after PTI chief Khan was imprisoned in Attock Jail following his conviction in the Toshakhana case, which was named in a first information report (FIR) registered by the FIA under Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act 1923 in the cipher case, according to The News, citing sources.

The FIA’s counter-terrorism wing had lodged the case against the former prime minister, who was forced from power in April last year following a no-confidence motion, after determining his willful involvement in abusing the sensitive material following an investigation.

According to official sources, the PTI head has been charged under Section 5 of the recently modified statute. However, officials were hesitant to share a copy of the FIR.

Earlier last year, the FIA interrogated Qureshi and PTI leader Asad Umar for over two hours in connection with the investigation into the disputed US cipher.

Qureshi has often stated that the US cipher was real, bolstering the party chief’s assertions that the US planned his demise by supporting the opposition’s no-confidence motion in April last year.

The cipher case against the former prime minister grew serious after his main secretary, Azam Khan, testified before a magistrate and the FIA that the previous prime minister had exploited the US cipher for ‘political benefits’ and to avoid a vote of no-confidence against him.

In his confession, the former bureaucrat said he was “euphoric” when he gave the cipher to the ex-premier and called the phrase a “US blunder.” According to Azam, the former prime minister then stated that the cable might be used to “create a narrative against the establishment and opposition.”

According to Azam, despite his caution, the PTI chairman employed the US cipher at political events. He further stated that the former prime minister informed him that the cipher might be used to deflect public attention away from “foreign involvement” in the opposition’s no-confidence vote.