Azam Khan has held Imran Khan responsible for hatching Cipher conspiracy: Rana Sanaullah

ISLAMABAD, July 19 (SABAH): Ex-Principal Secretary to former Prime Minister Muhammad Azam Khan has held Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan responsible for hatching Cipher conspiracy, harming Pakistan’s diplomatic relations, undermining country’s economy and spreading hate in the society.

This was stated by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, while quoting Azam Khan’s confessional statement, at a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.

He said Muhammad Azam Khan’s statement revealed that Imran Khan Niazi is the real Mir Jaffer, who orchestrated the drama against country’s interests by harming its foreign relations and inflicting a serious damage on its economy just to secure his vested political objectives. He said Azam Khan claimed that Imran Khan Niazi was told to refrain from misusing a secret document and making it public, which is a clear violation of the Official Secret Act.

Rana Sanaullah said Imran Khan Niazi deliberately used the cipher to build a narrative against the then opposition. Taking a u-turn, now Imran Niazi claims that cipher has lost. The Interior Minister, however, said that the original cipher is still with the PTI Chief and he should be prosecuted for keeping a secret document in private possession. He added that a former US President is also facing prosecution on similar grounds. He said Imran Khan Niazi should be brought to justice for violating the Official Secret Act and keeping a secret document in his private possession. He said former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also worked hand in glove with Imran Khan in the cipher conspiracy.

The Interior Minister further said that the confessional statement of Azam Khan discloses that Imran Khan Niazi can sacrifice national interests in pursuance of his personal agenda; similarly, there should be no doubt that the PTI chief was behind the violent and hateful incidents on May 9. He said defence institutions of the country were attacked, state buildings torched, memorials of martyrs desecrated and a planned attempt was made to spread anarchy in Pakistan. He said the culprits involved in carrying out anti-state activities should be brought to book and given an exemplary punishment as per law.

Responding to a question, Rana Sanaullah said it is a matter of state interests and a case against Imran Khan should be lodged on behalf of the state.