ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party rejected the government’s decision to try him in prison after the law ministry on Tuesday sanctioned legal proceedings against the ex-premier in a case involving a confidential diplomatic cable in Attock Jail today, citing security reasons.
Khan, who has been facing a slew of cases since his ouster from power in a no-trust vote in April last year, was taken into custody earlier this month and sent to a high-security prison after a trial court in Islamabad found him guilty of “corrupt practices” while looking into the accusations that he unlawfully sold state gifts during his stint in power.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) provided him relief in the matter on Tuesday, suspending his three-year prison term and granting him bail in the matter.
However, the ex-premier was not released from the jail since a judge had already ordered his detention in another case related to the mishandling of a confidential diplomatic cable, called cipher, in which his trial is scheduled to take place in prison today.
“There is absolutely no need for in-camera trial & that too in the prison,” the PTI said in a brief statement to the media while reacting to the development. “Trial should be in an open court with complete access to media & lawyers.”
Khan’s party also urged the Supreme Court to take note of “yet another blow to constitution & basic rights guaranteed by it” while pointing out that Article 10 of the constitution guaranteed fair trial to all citizens.
Earlier, the law ministry issued a notification in which it said the former prime minister’s trial would be held in jail.
“Due to security concerns as conveyed by the Ministry of Interior ... Law & Justice Division has No Objection for the trial of Mr. Imran Khan Niazi by the Special Court on 30.08.2023 in District Jail, Attock under Official Secrets Act, 1923,” it said.
It may be recalled that the secret diplomatic cable was prepared by Pakistan’s envoy to Washington last year after his meeting with a senior American official who purportedly threatened Islamabad of trouble, if the ex-premier dodged the no-confidence vote and continued to stay in the office.
Khan waved the document at a public rally in March 2022 and later revealed bits and pieces of its information for public consumption.
A complaint lodged against the former prime minister with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said he was “involved in the communication of information contained in [the] secret classified document ... to unauthorized persons (ie public at large).”
It noted that Khan and his associates had held a “clandestine meeting” at his private residence in Islamabad to determine how to misuse the diplomatic cable “by twisting the facts” to suit their political objectives.
The complaint added “the numbered and accountable copy of Cypher telegram sent to the PM Office was deliberately kept in his custody by the former Prime Minister Imran Khan, with malafide intention, and was never returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“The unauthorized retention and misuse of the Cypher Telegram by the accused persons compromised the entire cypher security system of the state and secret communication method of Pakistani missions abroad,” the text of the complaint continued. “The actions by the accused persons directly / indirectly benefited the interest of foreign powers and caused loss to the State of Pakistan.”
All of this was with reference to the former prime minister’s use of the document to build a case that his administration’s downfall was a result of an international conspiracy hatched in Washington whic was later implemented by his political rivals and Pakistan’s powerful military.
However, all those accused by Khan have repeatedly denied allegations against them.
Ex-PM Khan’s party rejects prison trial as cipher case proceedings set to begin today
https://arab.news/jz6xc
Ex-PM Khan’s party rejects prison trial as cipher case proceedings set to begin today
- Pakistan’s law ministry sanctioned the trial against the ex-PM in Attock Jail while citing security reasons
- Khan’s PTI party says the matter should be discussed in open court with full access to media and lawyers
Pakistan, Japan discuss boosting trade, investment and cooperation in key sectors
- The Pakistani side highlighted various opportunities in sectors minerals and mining, agricultural and agri-food products, and IT sectors
- The development comes as Pakistan steps up economic diplomacy to expand trade, investment ties after emerging from a financial crisis
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Japan have held talks on improving bilateral trade and investment and expanding cooperation in key sectors, Pakistan’s Press Information Department said on Saturday.
Both countries held the 8th Pakistan–Japan Government–Business Joint Dialogue and the Pakistan Business Forum in Tokyo on Friday, marking the first convening of the dialogue in the Japanese capital since Dec. 2018.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s aide on commerce Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan and Takuo Komori, Japan’s parliamentary vice-minister of economy, trade and industry, according to the PID.
The two sides exchanged views on strengthening bilateral economic relations, with a focus on improving the trade and investment environment and advancing practical cooperation.
“The Pakistani side outlined Pakistan’s economic priorities and highlighted opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as minerals and mining, agricultural and agri-food products, and information technology,” the PID said in a statement.
“The Japanese side shared perspectives on the operating environment for Japanese companies in Pakistan and discussed areas where continued engagement and follow-up could further facilitate business activity.”
Pakistan steps up economic diplomacy to expand trade ties and attract foreign capital after emerging from a prolonged financial crisis that nearly pushed it into default in mid-2023. Islamabad has since set up the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a civil-military body designed to cut red tape and provide a one-window operation for businesses, as it navigates a long path to economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
Pakistan and Japan established diplomatic and economic relations in 1952. Since then, Japan has been a major development partner, financing infrastructure such as roads, power plants and water systems, while extending technical assistance and yen loans.
The Pakistan–Japan Government–Business Joint Dialogue brought together senior officials and private-sector representatives from both countries, including members of the Pakistan–Japan Business Forum (PJBF) and the Japan–Pakistan Business Co-operation Committee (JPBCC).
Participants reaffirmed the importance of sustained government-to-government engagement, supported by close coordination with the private sector, to advance mutually beneficial economic cooperation between Pakistan and Japan, according to the statement.
Following the Joint Dialogue, the Pakistan Business Forum, co-organized by the Embassy of Pakistan in Tokyo and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), was held in Tokyo that was attended by Japanese and Pakistani business leaders.
The Forum featured selected sectoral presentations highlighting practical cooperation between Japanese and Pakistani partners. It included a presentation by the Trade and Investment Counsellor of the Embassy of Pakistan in Tokyo on “From Trade to Investment: Building Japan–Pakistan Joint Value Chains.”
“The Forum concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Abdul Hameed, Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan, who highlighted the importance of sustained engagement, trust-building, and long-term partnership in advancing Pakistan–Japan economic cooperation,” the PID added.
