Imran ‘fears for his life’ after relief denied in cipher case * IHC rejects ex-PM’s petitions and immunity claims; notes he apparently committed an offence under Official Secrets Act * PTI chief ‘may face death penalty or up to 14 years imprisonment’ * Refuses to record statement in May 9 case; Qureshi questioned in Adiala Jail By Malik Asad ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on. Friday declined bail to detained former prime minister Imran Khan in a case in which he has been indicted oncharges of leaking state secrets, observing that he apparently com- mitted the offence, which might carry the death penalty or upto 14 years of imprisonment, ‘The court also rejected another petition filed by the PTI chief in which he had asked the court to cancel the FIR in the cipher case. ‘The charge is related to a clas- sified cable sent to Islamabad by Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States last year, which Mr Khan is accused of making pub- lic. Mr Khan denies this, arguing that the contents of the cable appeared in the media from other sources. ‘The prosecution’s case is based on a complaint by Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, secretary of the Ministry of Interior. He alleged that Mr Khan and another PTI leader, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, communicated the cipher in an unauthorised manner. The con- tent was allegedly manipulated, jeopardising state security for personal benefits. It was also alleged that in a March 2022 meeting in Banigala, ‘Mr Khan and several others plot ted to exploit the cipher’s contents for political gains. ‘Constitutional immunity’ Defending Mr Khan, his lawyer Sardar Latif Khan Khosa argued that the facts of the case didn’t fit within Sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. He also stressed that Mr Khan, as a former prime minister, had constitutional immunity ‘from prosecution under Article 248 of the Constitution, ‘The counsel pointed to the prime minister's oath, provided in the third schedule of the Constitution, emphasising Mr Khan's duty to keep the public informed, which he said Mr Khan accordingly did by highlighting a conspiracy by a for eign government to overthrow his government. Barrister Salman Safdar, Continued on Page 5Imran ‘fears for his life’ Continued from Page 1 another counsel for Mr Khan, argued that the case lacked precise allegations and that details had been omitted fraudulently. Besides, the case was based mainly on a co-accused’s statement, he said, adding that the Official Secrets Act primarily pertained to armed forces personnel. However, Special Prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi contested these arguments, insisting that the act applied to all citizens. He argued that as prime minister, Mr Khan received a decoded copy of the cipher at his office. He was sup- posed to return the cable, but he did not, and instead kept it with him and allegedly tampered with its con- tents for political advantage. He also argued that Mr Khan didn’t enjoy immunity inthe cipher case under Article 248 of the Constitution. The court’s final verdict stressed that Mr Khan’s failure to safeguard the classified document and sub- sequent public dissemination could lead to severe legal repercussions. It specifically mentioned potential penalties under subsections (a) and (d) of Section 5(1) of the Official Secrets Act, under which Mr Khan could face the death penalty or up to 14 years of jail. Commenting on Mr Khan’s defence that he was exposing a conspiracy, the court underscored the clas- sified nature of ciphers and the prime minister's responsibility not to disclose sensitive information. ‘The court said that it was in fact an admission that such disclosure was made. Relying on a statement of former Pakistani amba: sador to the US, Asad Majeed, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq observed that “no conspiracy was hatched in a foreign country and that, making the con- tents of cipher known to public jeopardises the cipher code security and let down Pakistan in international diplomatic circles and strained relations of Pakistan with a foreign country”. ‘The court emphasised that MrKhan’s act of revealing the cipher’s contents duringa public gathering in March last year was not a part of his duties as prime minister, asit was a political gathering. Moreover, Mr Khan as prime minister “had no authority to declassify the cipher or make the contents public, as it was classified document”, the court said. Rejecting the arguments regarding Mr Khan's immunity, Justice Farooq noted that only the country’s president and governors possess such immunity while in office, not the prime minister. Due to the serious nature of the allegations and the potential penalty of death or up to 14 years imprison- ment, the court declined Mr Khan’s bail request. It was also highlighted that the contested cipher copy remains in Mr Khan’s possession. ‘Another attempt’ on life Meanwhile, the PTI chairma has expressed the apprehension that “they will try to make another attempt on my life while Tam in jail”. “Since I won't agree to leave my country, there is. of course a danger they will try to make another attempt on my life while I am in jail,” said a post on PTI’s offical X account, while quoting Mr Khan. “Such an atrempt could also be through slow poisoning.” ‘Taking a jibe at PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who has returned after four years, Mr Khan said: “The only ‘way a convicted criminal could be allowed to return to politics with a clean chit is by destroying State institu- tions. And hence, what we are witnessing is a complete collapse of our justice system.” The PTI chief asserted that all cases against him were “completely bogus”, “politically motivated”, and concocted to keep him in jail “till after the elections or maybe much longer beyond the elections”. About his health, he said, “At the moment, T am physically fit. [would know if my body was experienc- ing change from weakness.” Meanwhile, Mr Khan's sister Aleema Khan told the media there was no court that could give him justice. Asked if anyone had contacted her, Mr Khan or the party for a “backdoor channel or deal to facilitate” him to go abroad, she said: “See, no one has directly done so, but a lot of people do approach you that ‘do something that Khan sahib goes abroad’.” Later, PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan also came down hard on the IHC chief justice for rejecting Mr Khan’s bail plea. He described the decision as “very partial, preju- diced, biased and totally against the basic principle of fair delivery of justice”. “If the judiciary really wants to restore its dignity and prestige, it should immediately remove judges like Justice Paroog,” he said. Police visit Imran, Qureshi in Adiala Meanwhile, a day after Special Court and Anti-Terrorism Court Judge — Abual — Hasnat Zulaarnain allowed the Rawalpindi police to investi- gate Mr Khan and Mr Qureshi in the May 9 riot case, the police on Friday night visited Adiala Jail to inves- tigate them. ‘According to sources, Mr Khan refused to record any statement to the police in the absence of his law- yers. However, the police were able to record Mr Qureshi’s statement. The court, however, rejected the request of Gujranwala police to investigate the PTI chief and ‘Mr Qureshi in Adiala jail. ‘The police of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Kasur visited Adiala jail on Friday at about 6pm and left the premises an hour later after questioning ‘Mr Qureshi. Syed Irfan Raza in Islamabadand Mohammad Asghar in Rawalpindi also contributed to this reportGAZA STRIP: A plume of smoke ascends following Israeli bombardment over the northern Gaza Strip, on Friday. —AFP Gaza’s voice falls silent as Israel steps up ground assault + Internet, phone services severed * UN chief warns of ‘avalanche of suffering’ * White House says it now backs ‘humanitarian pause’ to let aid in GAZA: Social media and the inter net, the last means of communication the people of the besieged Gaza Strip had with the outside world, was sev- ered on Friday as broadband and mobile phone services were cut off. ‘The disconnection of the Palestinian ‘enclave meant that — as the bombing ‘of Gaza entered its 21st day — fresh photos, videos and other information regarding brutal Israeli actions against the territory were no longer coming through. ‘The isolation of Gazans came as Israel's air and ground forces stepped up operations in the Gaza Strip, Israel's chief military spokesperson said on Friday, amid reports of heavy bombing. of the besieged enclave. “In the last hours, we intensified the attacks in Gaza,” Rear Admiral Daniel ‘Hagari told a televised news briefing. ‘He said the air force was conducting extensive strikes on tunnels and other infrastructure. “In addition to the attacks carried ont in the last few days, ground forces are expanding their operations tonight,” he said. Israeli forces have massed outside Gaza, where Israel has been conducting an intense campaign of aerial bombard- ment since October 7, when Hamas car- ried outa daringraid on Israeli territory, But an opinion poll suggested almost half of Israelis now wanted to hold off on a ground invasion in con- sideration of the lives of 220 prisoners reported to be held there. Israel has been urged by the US and Arab countries to delay an operation that would multiply the number of civilian casualties in the densely popu: UNGA adopts resolution for truce in Gaza: Page 11 Jated coastal strip and might ignite a wider conflict. US backs ‘humanitarian pause In what appeared to be a change of heart, the US said on Friday that it now backs pauses in hostilities to allow aid to get into Gaza, the White House said, as Israel said it was ‘extending ground operations. “We would support humanitarian pauses for stuff getting in, as well as for people getting out, and thar includes pushing for fuel to get in and for the res- oration of electrical power,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. Ten additional aid trucks have got- ten into Gaza amid Israel's aerial bom- bardment but more fuel is needed, he said, but refused to comment on reports that Israel was expanding its ground operations in Gaza. ‘The UN has been warning of an “avalanche of human suffering” in the battered Palestinian territory. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday repeated his call for “a humanitarian ceasefire, the uncondi- tional release of all hostages, and the delivery of life-saving supplies”. “Misery is growing by the minute. ‘Without a fundamental change, the people of Gaza will face an unprece- dented avalanche of human suffer ing,” he said. The UN agency for Palestinian refu- gees had earlier warned that “many more will die” in Gaza from cata~ strophic shortages after nearly three ‘weeks of bombardment by Israel. ‘The UN human rights office also raised the alarm over “war crimes” being committed. Gara falls silent On Friday, Palestinian mobile phone Continued on Page 11Gaza’s voice falls silent as Israel steps up ground assault Continued from Page 1 service provider Jawwal said that ser- vices including phone and internet had been cut by heavy bombardment. A statement from the Palestine Red Crescent Society said it had completely lost contact with its operations room in Gaza and all its teams operating on the ground. In addition, online watchdog Netblocks said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that it had witnessed “a collapse in connectiv- ity in the Gaza Strip with high impact to Paltel, amid reports of heavy bombard- ment; the company is the last remaining major operator to supply service as con- nectivity declines”. Meanwhile, Hamas called on the world to “act immediately” Friday to stop Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, as intense strikes pounded the Palestinian territory. “We call on the Arab and Muslim countries and the international commu- nity to take responsibility and act imme- diately to stop the crimes and series of massacres against our people,” the group said in a statement. Meanwhile, nearly 29,000 Lebanese civilians have fled communities near the border with Israel because of deadly artillery exchanges between Hezbollah fighters and the Israeli army,. A total of 28,965 Lebanese have fled their homes, a UN agency said on Friday.—AgenciesSeven more killed as Kurram clashes worsen By Our Correspondent KURRAM: An armed conflict between two religious groups in Kurram claimed seven more lives on Friday, as officials said efforts to overcome the situation were underway. The clashes between the two sects, which erupted after a con- troversial video went viral on social media a few days ago, have so far claimed 15 lives. Although the contents of the video were strongly condemned by both sides, sporadic violence erupted in the area. Officials told Dawn that five people were killed in clashes between the two armed groups in the Boshara area, while two oth- ers lost their lives in Khar Kalay and Baleech Khel areas, on Friday. Officials said that at least 23 people, including 10 hurt in Friday’s clashes, had been injured in the four days of armed conflict that has swept through the region. Cellular networks remain sus- pended and all routes in and out of the district are closed for traffic, officials said, adding that locals were stranded and many others, who arrived from other parts of the country, could not move out of the area. Kurram Deputy Commissioner Syed Saiful Islam Shah said the Kohat commissioner had reached the district and efforts were under- way to overcome the situation. DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Qaisar Abbas said a state of emergency was declared in all the hospitals across the district. He said eight wounded persons were still under treatment while others had been discharged from hospital. Former federal minister Sajid Turi urged authorities to take immediate action against all those involved in the armed clashes and secure routes for movement, A day earlier, local elders and officials had convened in a bid to negotiate a ceasefire between the warring factions. However, this was derailed when a convoy of two vehicles, being escorted by police, came under attack in the Charkhel area of Lower Kurram. Four peo- ple were killed and six others injured in this attack. Mr Turi said a ceasefire was achieved with the efforts of the Continued on Page 3Seven more killed Continued from Page 1 district administration, forces and elders, but regretted that the situa- tion deteriorated after the attack on the convoy. He hoped that a_ ceasefire could be reached again on Saturday. Police said the vehicles were on way from the Thal area of Hangu district to Parachinar, the headquar- ters of Kurram district, when they came under attack. Tahir Hussain, an eye- witness who escaped the attack, told Dawn that police retaliated, but the attackers escaped. Turi Bangash tribal elder Inayat Turi and Tehreek-i-Hussaini Presi- dent Allama Tajammal Hussain demanded imme- diate action against the attackers. ANP leader Samar Haroon Bilour also called for peace in the district. “Regardless of our differ- ences, it’s crucial toremem- ber that we are all human beings, and peace is the path to progress. We call upon the provincial govt and district administration to restore peace in the area,” she wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).‘Friendly atmosphere’ fails to inspire as Pakistan left staring at early exit By Mir Shabbar Ali CHENNAI: Pakistan finally had the atmosphere they’d been craving, the sounds they wanted to be ringing in their ears, the positive energy they needed to spur them on during what has been a spiralling World Cup campaign at the M.A. Chidamabaram = Stadium here on Friday. But they just couldn’r match it with the result. There were cheers for Pakistan as they closed in on a victory — a much- needed one to stop a run of three straight losses — only for South Africa to deny them and secure a one- wicket win. Now, they’re really star- ing at the exit door; a berth in the semi-finals looking Lees Pakistan’s hopes diminish as SA edge thriller: Page 18 elusive. Keshav Maharaj roared after hitting the win- ning four, South Africa’s last stand leaving Pakistan limping in the race for the final four. “We had a very close fight and fought very well. We had an opportunity to win this match and stay in the tournament but we missed it” rued skipper Babar Azam after the tense one- wicket loss. “Of course it is very dis- appointing for all the play- ers,” he added. “We fought back but we were 10 to 15 runs short and didn’t finish well. The way fast bowlers and spinners bowled, they fought well but unfortu- nately the result was not in our hands.“We will try our best in our next three matches and put our effort in every match so let’s see where we stand after the three matches.” With the country’s unof- ficial anthem — Dil Dil Pakistan — being played at the Cheupak, Pakistan had reduced South Africa to 250-8 in their chase of 271, The place was buzzing, team director Mickey Arthur caught smiling by the TV cameras in the team’s dressing room. After the hammering by hosts India in front of a parti- san crowd in Ahmedabad, one that started this run of losses, Arthur had com- plained of the World Cup looking like an event organ- ised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India rather than that run by the Inter national Cricket Council. But here, the crowd was backing Pakistan. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who’d turned the game in his superb fin- ishing spell, had the crowd on its feet. Each time he would beat the outside edge of the South African tailend- ers, there were loud gasps. But once Pakistan’s pace options dried out, South Africa’s wagging tail — led by Maharaj — saw them through. Arthur would end up Continued on Page 11‘Friendly atmosphere’ fails to inspire Continued from Page 1 regretting the fact that Pakistan had posted a below- par score after electing to bat. “To be brutally honest, we haven’t put together the perfect game yet. I don’t think we’ve batted well enough yet as a unit. I think that pitch, certainly par on that pitch is 300 at least. We haven’t put together enough runs,” Arthur told reporters at the post-match presser. “And then we haven’t put together a bowling per- formance that goes with it. Tonight I thought was our best bowling performance of the competition. We bowled really well, but I still thought we were under par interms of the runs that we had.“It hasn’t been for lack of effort, we haven’t got enough players in form at the minute, particularly with the bat.” Pakistan’s fourth successive defeat after two early wins left them on the brink of elimination from the knockout stages but Arthur said he would not throwin the towel with matches against Bangladesh, New Zealand and England coming up. “You never know. What I do know is we need to go and assess combinations again, we need to have a look at the holes we have within our team,” Arthur said “We need to start improving in a lot of areas and we’ve got to go and finish this tournament with three victories. Every day we'll be trying and striving to do that.” He did, however, have a word of appreciation for Chennai and its cricket fans. “...the crowd was outstanding tonight. It was really good,” Arthur said. “You know, take the results out the way. Chennai has been outstanding. Training facilities, everything has been brilliant.” Just not the results, though, that Pakistan needed.More crossings opened to speed up deportation drive Punjab government identifies 33,000 illegal foreign residents; sites picked for temporary ‘holding centres’ in KP, Punjab and Balochistan By Saleem Shahid, Zulgemain Tahir and Umer Farooq QUETTA/LAHORE/PESHAWAR: Asthe government-ordained deadline for the deportation of illegal immi- grants — mostly Afghans — draws hear, authorities have intensified their efforts by setting up ‘holding centres, and opening additional bor der crossing paints to speed up the repatriation process. To expedite the repatriation of undocumented foreigners to Afgha- nistan and Iran, the Balochistan gov- emment is opening three more cross- ing points. “These crossing points are being ‘opened in Qila Saifullah, Qameruddin Karez and Baracha Noot Wahab in Chagai district to help Afghan and UN urges Pakistan to halt Afghan deportations: Page 3 Deportees look for ways to take back what they can’t Ieave behind: Page 5 Iranian Baloch immigrants to meet the deadline of Oct 31,” said Balochistan Information Minister Jan Aehakzal at a press conference on Friday. Similarly, foreigners found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without proper documents would be repatri- ated from KP crossing points, he added. After the deadline, he asserted, the government would implement its plan with full force, Wolving all relevant institutions in expelling illegal foreigners. from across the province. Tre said that the data of all voluntar- ily repatriated illegal immigrants ‘would be updated and saved. He said illegal immigrants coming from Sindh and Punjab would receive full secu: rity and be kept in holding centres. ‘The Quetta Haji camp has been converted into a holding centre, and additional centres have been estab- lished in border towns of Chaman and Pishin. More such centres may be set up in other areas if needed. The illegal immigrants will be pro- vided with food and necessary facili Hes, he added Replying to a question, the infor- mation minister said that around 40,000 ‘to 50,000 people from Chaman and Spin Buldake were eross- ing the PakeAfghan border daily ‘without passports and visas. The gov- ernment would no longer permit this practice, as it is not in the country’s interest and is not in line with inter national border practice: He noted that non-registered immigrants were returning to thelr home countries, with over 16,000 Afghans have” already. rerurned along with their families via the Chaman border. ‘Mr Achakzai said that the govern- ment was not only repatriating Ile- gal Afghan refugees but also intended to send Iranian Baloch, Nigerians, Bosnians, Bangladeshis, Indians, and other foreigners living legally in Pakistan back to thetr ‘Action would be taken against those who rent out their houses and shops to illegal immigrants, and ille- gal properties of foreigners would be contiseated, he added, 33,000 ‘illegal immigrants’ in Punjab In the ongoing mapping of illegal immigrants, the Punjab government has identified 33,000 illegal foreign residents, mostly Afghan nationals, in’ the province, caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir said ‘on Friday. ‘The provincial government says it is keeping the illegal immigrants at 36 ‘holding points’ in the province, and maintains thar undocumented immigrants will be deported if they do not leave the country voluntarily by Oct 31. ‘According 0 Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naavi, all preparations have been made to Iaunch a “comprehensive crack down” on undocumented immi grants and those giving them shelter. ‘Mr Mir said that some 99,000 ile. gal immigrants had been identified across the country, some of whom were being held in designated hold- ing within Punjab, he added. ‘He also justified the deportation Continued on Page 5More crossings opened to speed up deportation drive Continued from Page 1 of illegal Afghan nationals, saying that they were involved in recent terror attacks. “There were 24 sui- cide bombings in different parts of Pakistan and Afghan nationals were identified as suicide bombers in 14 such incidents,” he claimed. KP identifies holding sites Meanwhile, officials in KP said that the home and tribal affairs department had finalised the sites for keeping illegal immigrants, near Hamza Baba’s mauso- Jeum in Landi Kotal, district Khyber, and Labour Col- ony near Defence Housing Authority on the outskirts of the provincial capital. They also stated that apart from the facilities in dis- tricts Peshawar and Khyber, illegal immigrants in Azad Kashmir and Hazara division would be shifted to a facility set up in Haripur district. ‘They stated that although there was no shelter at the moment, it was expected in next few days. PDMA is responsible for camp management. An official document from the KP home department stated that a control room was established to coordi- nate, monitor, and report the repatriation plan of illegal foreigners. It said representatives from the police, corps headquarters, Peshawar, Nadra, FIA, Passports and Immigration, commissionerate of Afghan Refugees and PDMA and federal and provincial intelligence agencies would be present in the control room, which would become operational from today (Saturday).