Ex-PM Imran Khan trial for leaking state secrets adjourned without indictment 

Journalists, policemen and lawyers gather outside the Adiala central jail in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on December 12, 2023, to attend the high-profile cipher case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan. (AN photo)
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Updated 12 December 2023
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Ex-PM Imran Khan trial for leaking state secrets adjourned without indictment 

  • Despite court orders to allow media and public access to trial, only few journalists allowed inside jail premises
  • Lawyer says Khan and Qureshi’s family members barred from entering jail building, some PTI leaders also denied entry

RAWALPINDI: The trial of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan began today, Tuesday, in the “cipher case” in which he is accused of leaking official secrets, with proceedings adjourned until Wednesday without the ex-premier being indicted as was widely expected.

A special court established to hear the cipher reference had been conducting the trial inside the Adiala prison in Rawalpindi for weeks without media or members of the public allowed, before the Islamabad High Court ruled the hearings illegal last month and ordered them restarted in an open court. Khan had already been indicted in the case in October during the now annulled trial but the special court judge announced last week he would be indicted again on Dec. 12 as part of the restarted proceedings.

Hearings started afresh last week. Ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is also accused in the case, will also be indicted with Khan.

“Hearing adjourned till tomorrow, Wednesday, December 13,” Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said in a text message to reporters on Tuesday afternoon. “No indictment yet.”

On Tuesday, despite the court’s orders to allow journalists in the hearing, only around five were allowed inside while a dozen others waited outside the jail premises. No followers of Khan, arguably the most popular politician in Pakistan and the founder of the PTI party, had arrived at the scene, and there was scant police and security presence.

Khan’s legal counsel Salman Safdar appeared outside the jail while the hearing was ongoing and spoke to reporters, saying only a “few” representatives from the media were allowed entry into the jail premises and were seated at a distance of 50 feet from the judge during the hearing.

“Family members [of Khan and Qureshi] were stopped [from entering the jail] for 45 minutes,” Safdar added. “The cipher trial was wrapped up previously in haste due to which the entire activity was declared null and void [by the IHC].”

“We reject this open trial, we have submitted a request for a genuine open trial,” he added.




Uzma Khanum, center, and Aleema Khan, left, sisters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, arrive to attend the hearing of the Cipher case against Khan at Adiala prison, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on December 12, 2023. (AP)

During the hearing, according to Safdar, Khan and Qureshi both requested the judge that witnesses in the case be presented in the presence of the media.

Even senior PTI leaders complained they had been barred by prison guards from entering the jail building.

“Despite having the court’s permission, this is the sixth time they have kept me from attending the hearing,” Raoof Hasan, PTI Coordinator For International Media, told Arab News outside Adiala.

Only a few journalists were allowed into the last hearing also, according to Khan’s legal team.

Khan has challenged the process of his indictment by the special court at the Islamabad High Court and requested that proceedings at Adiala be halted until the IHC petition is decided.

“My feeling is that this judge will be very anxious to proceed with the trial and once again frame charges [indict] in haste which he should not because we have filed certain applications in Islamabad High Court and they have not been fixed or taken up today,” Safdar, the lawyer, had told Arab News outside the prison before the hearing began.

“Until and unless they are taken up and decided, this trial court should wait.”

Safdar praised Khan for being in high spirits, saying he had not seen a client with so much “patience” in his 23-year-long legal career.

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Khan is serving a three-year sentence at Adiala jail in a separate case in which he was convicted in August for failing to disclose assets earned from the sale of state gifts while he was PM from 2018-2022.

Khan is also accused in a number of other cases, including the cipher case, which relates to an alleged diplomatic correspondence between Washington and Islamabad that Khan says was proof that his ouster as PM in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in April 2022 was part of a US conspiracy to remove him. Washington has repeatedly denied Khan’s accusations.

According to Khan, the US got involved in the plot to oust him after his visit to Moscow and less than a month before his ouster, he waved a letter to a crowd during a public rally, claiming it was a cipher from a foreign nation calling for the end of his government. He later revealed that government to be the US.

According to the police complaint against them, Khan and Qureshi, who was Khan’s foreign minister during his tenure, are both accused of leaking state secrets to unauthorized individuals by publicly disclosing the contents of the confidential diplomatic cable and distorting facts “with ulterior motives and for personal gains.” These actions, authorities say, had jeopardized the Pakistani state’s security interests.

Khan has not been seen in public since he was arrested in August. Prior to that, he regularly addressed his millions of followers via social media platforms and held massive public rallies and protest marches. Khan had also been appearing in courts prior to his August arrest, protected by his personal security guards. But he had also sought exemptions from personal appearances, often citing threats to his safety.

The former premier says all cases against him are “politically motivated” and aimed at keeping him and his party out of politics ahead of general elections, due in February.

The caretaker government of PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar denies a crackdown against the PTI and says no party is barred from the polls.


Champions Trophy preparations in full swing as Karachi stadium upgradation nears completion

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Champions Trophy preparations in full swing as Karachi stadium upgradation nears completion

  • PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi says the National Stadium will be ready well before the ICC tournament
  • He says the PCB is improving facilities for Pakistani cricket fans to ensure they have a better experience

ISLAMABAD: Preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 are progressing rapidly, with the upgradation of Karachi’s National Stadium nearing completion, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday during a visit to the venue.

The tournament, scheduled for February 2025, has been at the center of controversy following India's reluctance to play in Pakistan due to strained political ties.

The International Cricket Council resolved the impasse by approving a hybrid model, allowing India’s matches to be held at neutral venues while other teams play in Pakistan. The decision ensured India’s participation while retaining Pakistan as the official host.

“Remarkable progress has been made in a very short time,” Naqvi was quoted in a PCB statement. “The upgradation of the National Stadium will be completed well before the Champions Trophy tournament.”

During the visit, Naqvi reviewed ongoing projects, including the installation of new seats in enclosures, enhanced parking facilities for 2,700 vehicles and finishing work on the stadium building.

He also instructed officials to expedite the installation of LED lights and scoreboards.

“We are improving facilities for cricket fans to ensure they have a better experience,” he added.

The PCB is under pressure to ensure the country is ready to host the major ICC tournament.

Security concerns and political tensions had previously kept high-profile international cricket events away, but recent improvements in safety and infrastructure have bolstered Pakistan’s case as a venue.

Praising the rapid progress at the National Stadium, Naqvi lauded the project team for their dedication.

“I congratulate the entire team for their outstanding and swift work,” he said.

The Champions Trophy is seen as a pivotal moment for Pakistan cricket, with the PCB aiming to deliver a world-class tournament to reaffirm the country’s ability to host international events successfully.


Students in Pakistan’s north embark on over 150-kilometer march for road safety awareness

Updated 24 min 28 sec ago
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Students in Pakistan’s north embark on over 150-kilometer march for road safety awareness

  • The marchers aim to press the government to built tunnels on 167-kilometer Juglot-Skardu Road to avoid accidents, blockades
  • They say the original construction plan of JSR included five tunnels, but not a single one was constructed by authorities

KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: A group of students on Saturday embarked on a more than 150-kilometer march from Pakistan’s northern Gilgit district to Skardu, aiming to raise awareness about road safety.

The marchers called for making the 167-km single-carriage Juglot-Skardu Road (JSR), which connects the Gilgit division with Skardu district in the Baltistan division, safer for travelers by building tunnels at various locations prone to landslides in the mountainous region.

Skardu is a major tourism, trekking and mountaineering hub in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region and home to Askole and Hushe villages, often referred to as gateways to snow-capped peaks, including K2, the Gasherbrums and Broad Peak, as well as the Baltoro, Biafo and Trango glaciers.

“We are marching just with a single agenda and our slogan is: ‘Build tunnels, save lives,’” Shehbaz Shareef, a member of the Baltistan Students Federation (BSF), told Arab News.

“We have organized this walk to raise awareness about the need for safer and reliable routes between Skardu and other parts of the country.”

The image circulating on social media on December 21, 2024, shows a group of students marching for road safety awareness in the Pakistan's northern Baltistan region. (Hassnain Abbas Khan Tayis/Facebook)

Shareef said the original construction plan for JSR included five tunnels, but none were built.

“This route has been constructed by FWO [Frontier Works Organization],” he added. “However, the tunnels were not built, and this road has become more dangerous.”

Arab News contacted FWO, a construction and engineering organization managed by the Pakistan Army, for its version. However, it was referred to the local chapter of the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, which did not respond to the query until the filing of this report.

The Awami Action Committee (AAC), a civic rights body in the region, announced its support for the march.

“We are very thankful to the BSF who are raising a very important issue. They are demanding the government to make this road safer through this march because this road is the only land route to the Baltistan division,” Najaf Ali, chairman of the AAC Baltistan chapter, told Arab News.

“It has become a well of death. Accidents are common on this road, and it has devoured many precious lives. A few days ago, five people were killed after a landslide buried their car. We have grown tired of lifting bodies due to accidents.”

Ali urged the government to build the requisite tunnels on the road.

“This is a matter of life and death, so we are with the students, and we will warmly receive them in Skardu,” he said. “Additionally, we also held a meeting with trade bodies and decided to launch a big drive to press the government to make this road safe.”

Mesam Kazim, opposition leader in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, said they would do their utmost to press the government for the construction of tunnels on JSR.

“In 2022, we adopted a unanimous resolution demanding the federal government to order the construction of tunnels on the Gilgit-Skardu road to avoid frequent blockades of the artery due to landslides,” Kazim said.

“In the initial PC-1 [survey] uploaded by NHA [National Highway Authority], the construction of tunnels was part of the plan. Tunnels have been missed, and international standards [of construction] have been violated by FWO on JSR.”

He lamented that there were no parking lots, safety barriers, or speed limit boards on the road, and more than 100 people had lost their lives in accidents on JSR over the last few years.

“Who is responsible for these casualties?” Kazim questioned.


Government arrests two human smugglers linked to Greek boat tragedy that killed five Pakistanis

Updated 56 min 4 sec ago
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Government arrests two human smugglers linked to Greek boat tragedy that killed five Pakistanis

  • FIA says Muhammad Aslam and Saeed Ahmed were arrested in separate operations from Gujranwala and Gurjat
  • Investigations reveal victims of the boat tragedy paid over $30,000 after being promised safe passage to Europe

KARACHI: Pakistani authorities on Sunday arrested two men involved in a recent boat tragedy off the coast of Greece that killed at least five nationals, as part of an intensified crackdown on human smuggling networks, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said.

The arrests come in the wake of a boat disaster last week near the Greek island of Gavdos, which highlighted the perilous journeys many migrants undertake, often driven by conflicts in the Middle East. In the case of Pakistani nationals, economic challenges push many young individuals to attempt dangerous crossings to Europe in search of better financial prospects.

The issue illegal immigrations to Europe came under greater scrutiny in the country last year when hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned after an overcrowded vessel capsized off the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos.

The FIA said it apprehended Muhammad Aslam and Saeed Ahmed in separate operations following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to target those facilitating illegal migration.

The Pakistani agency informed Aslam was part of an international human smuggling ring and was accused of orchestrating the ill-fated journey that saw Pakistani migrants taken to Libya before being put on a boat bound for Greece.

“Using advanced technology, Aslam was tracked and arrested in Gujranwala,” the FIA statement said, adding the second suspect was arrested in Gujrat district located in the eastern Punjab province and was accused of creating fake travel documents and charging large sums for his services.

The statement informed Aslam extorted Rs8.5 million ($30,660) from victims by promising safe passage to Europe.

The Pakistani premier called for enhanced cooperation with international agencies earlier this month, seeking swift action against human trafficking networks. He also instructed the FIA to compile a detailed report on migration-related incidents over the past year and implement an Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) to monitor and prevent illegal movement.

The FIA said in its statement it had formed special teams to track other suspects linked to human smuggling rings.

“We will use all available resources to arrest those playing with innocent lives,” Abdul Qadir Qamar, the director of the FIA’s Gujranwala zone, was quoted as saying in the statement.

Authorities have presented 174 human smuggling cases in court this year, with four convictions reported so far. The government has also decided to launch a public awareness campaign to discourage dangerous migration attempts.

“Concrete evidence will ensure the culprits face severe punishment,” Qamar added, emphasizing the government’s commitment to preventing such tragedies.


Pakistan government forms committee to negotiate with Imran Khan’s party amid growing polarization

Updated 22 December 2024
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Pakistan government forms committee to negotiate with Imran Khan’s party amid growing polarization

  • Development comes after Khan threatened civil disobedience in the country, seeking release of political prisoners
  • Government acknowledges talks can help break the current impasse which has also impacted national economy

ISLAMABAD: The government on Sunday formed a committee to hold talks with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, state media reported, to discuss a range of issues causing political polarization that has also impacted the country’s fragile economy.

The move comes after PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan threatened to launch civil disobedience by urging overseas Pakistanis, a key support base for his party, to halt remittances if the government does not meet his demands, including the release of political prisoners, by Dec. 22.

Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year on charges he claims are politically motivated, has also called for judicial commissions to investigate violent protests on May 9 last year and Nov. 26 this year, which the government says involved his party supporters.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee comprising government members,” state-owned Pakistan Television News reported. “This committee will hold negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.”

The formation of the government’s negotiating team followed a meeting between PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday evening in which Gohar requested the creation of a parliamentary committee to facilitate dialogue. Sadiq subsequently approached the Prime Minister, urging him to nominate representatives for the talks.

The government’s committee includes key figures from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), such as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Political Adviser Rana Sanaullah and Senator Irfan Siddiqui, alongside representatives from allied parties. PTI has already established its own negotiating team.

The development comes a day after Pakistan’s military announced prison sentences for 25 people involved in the May 9, 2023, protests, which PTI has demanded be investigated. The military said it had gathered “irrefutable evidence” against those prosecuted and reiterated its commitment to bringing the planners of the violence to justice.

The announcement has raised concerns among supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who faces charges of inciting attacks against the armed forces and may potentially be tried in a military court.

The country has remained gripped by political unrest and uncertainty since Khan’s ouster from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote, which has also exacerbated Pakistan’s economic hardships.

Senior government representatives have recently acknowledged that negotiations could offer a pathway out of the current political impasse. However, they have cautioned that it is too early to determine which of PTI’s demands might be addressed.


Pakistan PM orders crackdown on tax evasion, calls for modernization of revenue collection system

Updated 22 December 2024
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Pakistan PM orders crackdown on tax evasion, calls for modernization of revenue collection system

  • Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio is among the lowest in the region, with government aiming to increase it to 13.5%
  • Tax reforms are also part of the IMF recommendations, which led to approval of a $7 billion loan package this year

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed authorities to take strict action against tax evasion and ensure non-compliance is addressed as part of his administration’s efforts to enhance revenue collection and modernize the tax system, according to the state media.

Chairing a meeting in Lahore, Sharif emphasized the need for incorporating advanced technology to improve the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) performance.

“Improving the FBR’s performance through technology is the government’s top priority,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency quoted him as saying.

The prime minister called for the swift completion of the FBR’s value chain digitization and instructed the rapid implementation of video analytics in the cement and tobacco industries, sectors prone to tax underreporting.

He expressed optimism that digitization efforts would help recover billions of rupees for the national treasury.

The government has recently undertaken a series of tax measures, including expanding the tax base and targeting untaxed sectors.

Earlier this year, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasized the need for everyone to pay their fair share, describing tax reforms as critical to breaking the cycle of external financial reliance.

Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains among the lowest in the region, at just over nine percent, though the government aims to increase it to 13.5% in the coming years.

The Pakistani administration has also announced to launch a crackdown on affluent individuals not yet in the tax net, with the FBR tasked to identify and penalize evaders.

The tax reforms are also part of the International Monetary Fund’s recommendations, which led to the approval of a fresh $7 billion loan package for the country this year.