The Pakistani Interior Minister, Rana Sanaullah, announced today, Wednesday, that Pakistan will begin criminal proceedings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, following allegations of leaking official secrets, amid a series of cases Khan is facing. Sanaullah stated that the decision was made after Khan's former chief secretary recorded a statement in court today, indicating that Khan manipulated a coded American diplomatic message in March 2022 for his political objectives.
Sanaullah explained that the chief secretary testified that Khan told him he lost a copy of the message when asked to return it. The Pakistani Interior Minister asserted that "leaking an official secret is a crime," pointing out that the state will file a lawsuit against Khan in court. He added, "I don't believe he lost the copy. He still has it. It should be retrieved from him."
Khan had waved a document at a public meeting held shortly after his ousting, claiming he possessed a copy of a secret diplomatic message containing dire consequences if he continued to get closer to Russia. Khan traveled to Moscow on the eve of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Khan stated that he did not believe his former secretary would testify against him. He told reporters after a court session in another case, "I won't believe it as long as I haven't heard it directly from him." The case involves diplomatic correspondence which Khan claimed early last year was part of an American conspiracy to oust his government. Washington has denied any involvement in such a conspiracy.
