Pakistan’s special court extends the custody of former foreign minister Qureshi for two more days
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The FIA has already arrested Khan and Qureshi in the case. Khan, 70, is currently in jail after being sentenced to three years imprisonment in a corruption case earlier this month. Qureshi was the foreign minister when the issue of diplomatic documents came to the fore. The purported document details a conversation between US State Department officials and Pakistani Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan at a meeting last year.
A special court in Islamabad on Monday extended the custody of former Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi by two more days in connection with the leak of a classified diplomatic document. The document was allegedly misused by the previous Imran Khan-led government for political purposes. Qureshi (67), a former close aide of jailed Khan and vice president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, was arrested on August 19 under the Official Secrets Act. This action has been taken against him for violating the confidentiality by sending an official document by the Pakistani Embassy in the US during his tenure as Foreign Minister.
Qureshi, a two-time foreign minister, was remanded in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for four days till August 25 by the special court. Subsequently, his custody was extended by the court for three more days on Friday. On Monday, the FIA produced Qureshi before the special court and sought extension of his custody for five days. Geo News quoted sources as saying that special prosecutor Zulfir Naqvi requested the court that they have to take his mobile phone. Qureshi’s lawyer Babar Awan opposed this request and cited several decisions of the higher judiciary in his defence. During the hearing, Awan argued that his client had nothing to do with the case.
Awan said that Qureshi has been in custody for the last nine days and that is enough. He told the judge that Qureshi’s mobile phone was with the FIA and there was no need to keep him in further custody. Subsequently, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain reserved the verdict, which was pronounced later. Zulqarnain has also been given the additional charge of the special court. The FIA has already arrested Khan and Qureshi in the case. Khan, 70, is currently in jail after being sentenced to three years imprisonment in a corruption case earlier this month. Qureshi was the foreign minister when the issue of diplomatic documents came to the fore. The purported document details a conversation between US State Department officials and Pakistani Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan at a meeting last year.
Disclaimer: IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.
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