Former army chief General (r) Qamar Javed Bajwa has expressed his “willingness to appear” as a witness in the cipher case, possibly surprising former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Imran Khan’s Allegations and Dec 12 Indictment Date
Imran Khan, facing charges under the Official Secrets Act, alleged that General Bajwa acted on the directives of US embassy officials. The special court has set December 12 for Imran’s indictment in the cipher case.
Discrepancies in Allegations and Witness Statements
Contrary to Imran’s claims of a regime-change conspiracy, witness statements in the cipher case paint a different picture. Statements indicate Imran used the cipher for political gains, damaged Pakistan’s relations with the US, and failed to return the document.
Imran’s Narrative vs. Witness Testimonies
Witness Azam Khan, then secretary to the PM, revealed Imran’s intention to create a narrative against opposition parties and state institutions using the cipher. Imran allegedly never returned the document, claiming he misplaced it.
Cipher’s Misuse: Impact on Security System
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood expressed shock at Imran and Shah Mehmood Qureshi using the cipher in a public meeting for personal and political gain. The misuse reportedly damaged the country’s entire cipher security system.
Ambassador’s Report and NSC’s Conclusion
Former Ambassador to the US Asad Majeed Khan highlighted his communication with Donald Lu, stating it did not involve terms like “threat” or “conspiracy.” The National Security Committee concluded, on two occasions, that there was no foreign conspiracy for regime change in Pakistan.
