FIA summons ex-PM Imran’s principal secretary Azam Khan

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned former prime minister Imran Khan’s principal secretary, Azam Khan, in relation to an investigation into the audio leaks of the alleged conspiracy cipher.

Azam has been asked to appear at the FIA’s office on October 25 at 1pm. The corruption watchdog is investigating the audio leaks allegedly featuring Imran Khan and other PTI leaders in a discussion about a US cipher on the orders of the federal cabinet.

Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Azam were allegedly heard discussing the US cipher and how to use it in their interest, in the two audio leaks that surfaced recently. In the first audio leak that emerged last month, Imran was heard directing Azam to “just play” with the cipher, and responding to this, the latter advised the ex-premier that they can fake the minutes of a meeting with Qureshi and foreign secretary Sohail Mehmood to bring the cipher on record.

On September 30, the federal cabinet took notice of the matter and constituted a committee to probe the contents of audio leaks. The committee recommended legal action over the audio leaks purportedly featuring Imran Khan, Azam Khan and others on October 1. Meanwhile, a summary comprising the recommendations of the body was presented before the cabinet.

“This is a matter of national security, which has serious implications for national interests and a legal action in this regard is vital,” the cabinet committee had recommended. The federal cabinet had approved the summary through circulation.