Imran Khan Admits Misplacing Major Diplomatic Cable During Jail Interrogation

Islamabad: The former prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan has admitted misplacing a confidential diplomatic cable. The cable was reportedly evidence of a foreign-backed conspiracy to remove him from office.

Khan was grilled by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Attock Jail, where he is currently serving a three-year jail term for a corruption case. The FIA is investigating Khan for allegedly misusing and misplacing the cable, which is a violation of the Official Secrets Act.

Khan told the FIA that he could not remember where he had kept the cable. He also denied that the document he had waved at a public rally was the diplomatic cable, asserting that it was Cabinet meeting minutes.

The case was registered against Khan and PTI vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Khan’s principal secretary Azam Khan, former planning minister Asad Umar, and other associates’ roles will also be assessed during the investigation.

Khan’s accusations of a US-backed conspiracy to topple his government were based on the contents of the purported cypher, which detailed a meeting between US State Department officials and Pakistan’s former envoy. However, The Intercept, a US media outlet, published a leaked copy of the cable, which the US State Department couldn’t verify.

The cypher case gained traction after Khan’s principal secretary stated that Khan had utilized the document for political gain. Khan’s recent arrest and conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case have further complicated his legal situation. With several cases launched against him, his arrest in the cypher case is possible if his Toshakhana sentence is suspended.

Khan’s imprisonment and legal entanglements have cast a shadow over his political future, potentially affecting his participation in upcoming general elections.