ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and one of his senior aides in the ‘cipher case’ in which he is charged with leaking state secrets.
Khan is serving a three-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in a separate ‘Toshakhana’ case in which he was convicted in August of not declaring assets earned from the sale of state gifts during his 2018-22 tenure as prime minister. He denies any wrongdoing and says the charges, as well as those related to the cipher case, are politically motivated and intended to keep him and his PTI party out of general elections in February.
In a message sent to reporters, the PTI announced that Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Khan’s foreign minister during his tenure as PM, had been granted bail by the top court.
“PTI has always maintained its position on the nature of this bogus trial,” the PTI said.
However, Khan’s bail in the cipher case does not mean he will be freed, as he is convicted in the Toshakhana case, and is remanded in police custody in the case of a £190 million settlement with a property tycoon called the Al-Qadir trust case. He also faces dozens of other cases, ranging from terrorism to attempted murder.
“The Supreme Court has granted bail to both Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case, but it is too early to say anything about their actual release from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi,” Qureshi’s lawyer Taimur Malik told Arab News.
“The National Accountability Bureau has already taken custody of Imran Khan in the Toshakhana and Al-Qadir Trust cases, so his bail has to be secured in these cases too for his release.”
Malik said Qureshi had secured bail in all cases registered against him, and there was now no “apparent” reason to keep him in jail.
“Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be released from jail if he is not arrested in any other case,” he added, referring to recent instances in which new cases were filed against PTI supporters and Khan aides after they got bail in another.
A copy of the Supreme Court’s order seen by Arab News states that the court found “no sufficient incriminating material” Khan disclosed the contents of the diplomatic cable to the public, either directly or indirectly, in the interest or for the benefit of a foreign power, nor did he disclose information relating to any of the defense installations or affairs.
The order said there wasn’t sufficient material evidence to indicate Khan had disclosed a secret official code to the public at large.
“The discretion exercised by the high court in denying bail to the petitioners is found to have been exercised perversely, that is, against the weight of the material available, on record of the case, which warrants interference by the court,” the order read.
The cipher saga 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.
Weeks before his ouster, Khan had waved a letter to a crowd during a public rally last year, claiming it was a cipher from a foreign nation calling for the end of his government. Khan later revealed that country to be the US and said the secret diplomatic letter spoke of dire consequences if he continued to get closer to Russia. The government at the time of PM Shehbaz Sharif said Khan’s actions amounted to leaking state secrets and using them for political gains.
A special court was formed on Aug 21 under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, to adjudicate the case. The hearings have been held in Adiala jail, without access granted to media and family members at most proceedings.
Pakistan Supreme Court grants bail to Imran Khan in state secrets case
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Pakistan Supreme Court grants bail to Imran Khan in state secrets case
- Not clear if Khan would be released as he has multiple arrest warrants issued against him in several other cases
- Khan is serving three-year jail sentence for corruption, faces slew of legal challenges since being ousted from PM office
Pakistan sets up 24/7 control room to address Afghan repatriation complaints
- The decision comes a day after Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met Taliban officials in Kabul
- The government says nearly 85,000 Afghans have returned to their home country so far in April
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has established a 24/7 federal control room to assist Afghan nationals and respond to complaints of harassment during their repatriation, according to a statement issued on Sunday, amid growing criticism of Islamabad’s ongoing deportation campaign.
The decision comes a day after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul and met senior Taliban officials to discuss bilateral cooperation, including issues linked to the mass return of Afghans from Pakistan.
“Pakistan has set up a 24/7 Federal Control Room at the National Crisis Information Management Cell (NCIMC) to assist Afghan nationals and address complaints of harassment during repatriation,” the office of Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Sadiq Khan, said in a statement.
It noted the helpline service was launched in line with Dar’s commitment during his visit to Kabul. Dar had promised that Pakistan’s interior ministry would issue a notification within 48 hours to streamline a complaints mechanism for Afghan returnees.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Dar spoke with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to thank him for the hospitality extended during the visit. Both leaders expressed satisfaction over the outcome of their talks and agreed to “expeditiously implement the decisions taken for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries,” the ministry said
Dar also invited Muttaqi to visit Pakistan, an invitation the Afghan official accepted.
The development comes as Islamabad presses ahead with a second phase of its repatriation plan, targeting more than 800,000 Afghans whose residence permits have been canceled.
Rights groups and Afghan officials have raised concerns about the treatment of deportees, many of whom have reported harassment, arbitrary arrests and family separations.
Pakistan says nearly 85,000 Afghans have returned so far in April, with a large number of them undocumented. The United Nations says more than half of them are children, with many families entering a country where women face restrictions on work and education under Taliban rule.
Islamabad has defended the deportation policy as a national security measure, pointing to rising militant violence and alleging that many Afghan nationals have remained involved attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban government in Kabul, however, denies the charge.
The first phase of the deportation campaign began in late 2023 wherein hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans were expelled from Pakistan.
At Dubai exhibition, Pakistan’s envoy says art can shape global perception of his country
- Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi visits Imran Qureshi’s exhibition during Alserkal Art Week in Dubai
- He says art can build cross-cultural understanding, pledges support for future collaborations in UAE
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, said on Sunday art could serve as a powerful tool of soft power for his country, helping project its positive image on the world stage, as he visited an exhibition by a leading Pakistani artist in Dubai on its concluding day.
Titled “Vanishing Points,” the event ran from April 13 to 20 as part of Alserkal Art Week and was held at Concrete, a prominent contemporary art space at Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue.
Curated by Nada Raza, Director of the Alserkal Arts Foundation, the show featured Imran Qureshi’s latest body of work, spanning photography, video, painting and a site-specific installation, offering a vivid meditation on urban life and the visual chaos of South Asian cityscapes.
Known for pioneering a contemporary revival of Indo-Persian miniature painting, Qureshi’s practice blends traditional techniques with modern perspectives.
“Imran Qureshi’s art vividly transforms Pakistan’s day-to-day life into breathtaking visual narratives,” Tirmizi said after touring the exhibition.
“Through his lens, the bustling streets, Sufi shrines and architectural heritage come alive, arising a deep sense of connection,” he continued. “His depiction of a Sufi tomb with Qawwali resonating in the background is particularly mesmerizing and emotionally powerful.”
The ambassador emphasized the importance of art as a form of diplomacy, saying it could promote cross-cultural understanding and enhance Pakistan’s global standing.
He also pledged support for future cultural collaborations in the UAE, particularly with platforms like Alserkal Avenue that promote diverse artistic voices.
A recipient of Pakistan’s Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of the country’s highest civilian honors, and France’s Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, a prestigious distinction recognizing significant contributions to the arts and literature, Qureshi is among the internationally celebrated artists.
His works are housed in prominent collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Qureshi’s works are also featured in Art Dubai, another major international art fair running in the city.
This year’s Art Dubai edition includes work by 10 Pakistani artists, reflecting the country’s growing presence on the global contemporary art scene.
Peshawar Zalmi reignite media partnership with Arab News Pakistan for PSL 2025
- Zalmi clinched the 2017 title and have remained strong contenders in subsequent seasons
- After a challenging tournament start, they have bounced back with 120-run win against Multan
ISLAMABAD: A popular franchise of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Peshawar Zalmi, announced on Sunday a renewed media partnership with Arab News Pakistan, continuing a collaboration that began in 2020.
The PSL, launched in 2016, is Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket league featuring six city-based teams.
Peshawar Zalmi, representing the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, clinched the PSL title in 2017 and have consistently been strong contenders in subsequent seasons.
“Proud to go global with @arabnewspk as our International Newspaper Partner for #HBLPSLX,” Zalmi announced on their social media account on X, exclaiming, “Where cricket meets the world.”
Arab News Pakistan was launched in February 2018 and has since provided in-depth coverage of Pakistan, including sports.
Its parent organization, Arab News, was founded in 1975 and is part of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), one of the largest media conglomerates in the region.
Peshawar Zalmi had a challenging start to this year’s PSL but bounced back with a commanding 120-run victory over Multan Sultans on Saturday, marking their first win of the season.
They are now set to face Karachi Kings in the next match on Monday at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Punjab minister urges clerics to denounce Gaza-linked fast-food chain attacks in Pakistan
- Azma Bokhari says attacks are not helping the oppressed people of Palestine but hurting Pakistan
- The government has arrested over 150 attackers and promised strict action against others involved
ISLAMABAD: A senior minister in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Sunday urged religious scholars to publicly condemn recent attacks on an international fast-food chain, warning that such actions were damaging the country’s image and hurting its own citizens.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari’s remarks came a day after the federal government said over 150 people had been arrested for attacking the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlets amid rising anti-American and anti-Israel sentiment in the country over the war in Gaza.
Protesters have vandalized KFC branches in multiple cities, with at least one employee killed during the unrest, asking people to show solidarity with their Muslim brethren in the Palestinian territory who have been killed in great numbers since the beginning of the war in October 2023.
“I believe that all our forums where respected religious scholars are present should come forward more strongly on this issue and speak up,” the provincial minister said at a news conference in Lahore.
“Attacking these food chains is not helping the oppressed people of Gaza,” she continued. “It is hurting Pakistan.”
Bokhari noted that international franchises like KFC provided jobs to thousands of locals in Punjab and other parts of the country.
“Now tell me this: if the 25,000 Pakistanis working here lose their jobs, will that benefit the people of Gaza?” she asked. “Or have these incidents helped the oppressed people of Gaza in any way? No, it’s causing harm — harm to Pakistan’s image.”
She also referenced the killing of a KFC employee in Sheikhupura, questioning what his fault was.
Bokhari accused “an extremist group” of organizing the attacks and said the government would take strict action against those involved.
On Saturday, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudry said 12 police cases had been registered against the attackers in Punjab alone, with 142 arrests made. Another 15 suspects had been detained in Islamabad, he added.
“It cannot happen that someone brings investment into Pakistan, gives its people employment, pays 100 percent tax, and also spends on welfare, education and health activities, and then someone attacks it,” he said.
He maintained such incidents would be treated with the same seriousness as militant attacks, adding the government and interior ministry were “available 24 hours” to respond.
Pakistan does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel but has consistently voiced support for the Palestinian cause.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an immediate end to Israel’s military campaign, while Pakistan’s permanent mission to the United Nations has repeatedly urged accountability for Israeli “war crimes.”
Islamabad locked down as Pakistani party stages mass rally in solidarity with Gaza
- Jamaat-e-Islami’s top leader urges government to recognize Hamas, open its office in Pakistan
- Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman calls on the people of Pakistan to boycott all products linked to Israel
ISLAMABAD: The chief of Pakistan’s influential religio-political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Sunday announced a nationwide strike for April 26 in solidarity with Palestine, urging citizens to boycott brands allegedly supporting Israel amid its ongoing military offensive in Gaza.
The call came during a large Gaza Solidarity March held on the Expressway connecting Islamabad and Rawalpindi, after authorities blocked access to Islamabad’s Red Zone, where JI had originally planned to rally near the US embassy.
The party has held similar protests in Karachi, Lahore and other cities in recent weeks, criticizing Washington’s support for Israel’s military campaign against the Palestinian territory.
“There will be a complete nationwide strike on April 26,” JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said in his address to the crowd. “We will go from shop to shop, urging people to suspend business activities ... as we will wage a jihad through boycotts, strikes and social media campaigns.”
Rehman called on Pakistanis to boycott all products linked to Israel, vowing to keep the movement peaceful but persistent.
He also urged the government to formally recognize Hamas and allow it to open an office in Pakistan, calling the group “a legitimate power” that won democratic elections in 2006.
Participants at the march echoed Rehman’s demands, saying Pakistanis should take a more active role in supporting Palestinians by avoiding Israeli-linked brands and pushing the government to take diplomatic initiatives.
“We should boycott brands that support Israel in order to inflict financial damage and send a strong, clear message,” said a woman attending the march with her family, who identified herself as Mrs. Majid.
Dr. Liaqat Ali Meher, who traveled from District Gujrat in Punjab, said Muslim countries should go beyond verbal condemnations and coordinate political pressure on Israel and the US.
“The government should send parliamentary delegations to various countries to build political pressure on Israel and the United States to stop the killing of innocent people, including women and children,” he said.
Others at the march described their participation as a gesture of unity with Palestinians.
“The aim of our participation in this rally is to raise our voice for all the Palestinians martyred by Israel and to show that we stand with them and share in their pain,” Yasir Khan, an Islamabad-based government employee, said.
Pakistan does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and has repeatedly condemned its military actions in Gaza, particularly the killing of thousands of unarmed civilians.
Islamabad has also called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave and renewed negotiations toward a two-state solution.
It has long supported the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Since October 7, 2023, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 116,000 wounded in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
