Muhammad Azam Khan, who served as the principal secretary to the prime minister between 2018-2022, was considered to be an all-powerful bureaucrat during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s government. Implicated in the US cipher controversy and some other cases, multiple well-placed sources in Islamabad -- including those inside the bureaucracy -- aware of developments have informed The Friday Times that Azam could end up testifying against his former boss .
A testimony?
An officer from the Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) in basic pay scale (BPS) grade 22, Azam he was well-known in the power corridors of Islamabad and was considered as someone who knew all about the decisions made by Imran Khan as prime minister being his principal secretary.
“He was amongst the few individuals who was privy to all the decisions being taken by former premier, be it transfers and postings of officers, or financial dealings,” said one of the officials The Friday Times spoke to.
Sources involved or aware of developments in the case but who are not authorized to speak to the media about the matter, are hopeful that once Azam is reappears, he can come on the record in certain cases in which either he is implicated or Imran is.
While they did not identify which case in particular Azam could testify in, it was suggested that given his closeness to prime minister Imran Khan, any statement or testimony in a related case as a state witness by the former principal secretary could be potentially damaging for the PTI chairman.
When asked about his whereabouts, a senior official based in Islamabad expressed ignorance about that information, but was hopeful Azam Khan would "appear soon" and detail what had happened during Imran's tenure.
"Imran Khan is likely to land in hot water if Azam Khan becomes an approver against him, and it would be very difficult for Imran Khan to save himself".
Which cases could Azam implicate Imran in?
An official said that while they are unaware in which particular case Azam could be called upon to give testimony, the official did point to multiple cases where his testimony could be key.
“If Azam turns approver in the Toshakhana case or Al-Qadir Trust Case, or brings to surface other decisions taken by Imran Khan, then it won’t be easy for Imran Khan to come out clean," the official said, adding, "Azam Khan knows about records of awarding contracts and other things to businessmen, and other like-minded individuals against favours or personal gains.”
Agreeing with this, a source at the Prime Minister's Secretariat who had previously worked with Azam Khan, said that it would be a "huge breakthrough" if the authorities manage to secure Azam Khan's testimony and can put him on a witness stand against Imran Khan.
“Azam has the ultimate insider's account, and documented evidence against Imran Khan," the source said.
Azam Khan missing since June 15
The former principal secretary to the PM, who had previously served as chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) during Parvez Khattak’s tenure as chief minister, went missing on Thursday, June 15.
A first information report (FIR) was registered for his abduction on June 16 by Islamabad police after an application was submitted by his nephew. The application stated that Azam Khan went missing on June 15, evening. He left his home but did not return, and his mobile phone was switched off.
The Friday Times tried to reach out to Azam Khan's family and lawyer for comment but received no response.
'Playing' with the diplomatic cipher
It is pertinent to mention that in one of the leaked audio tapes, former premier Imran Khan could be heard telling Azam Khan to “play” with a diplomatic cypher from Pakistan's then-ambassador in Washington.
https://twitter.com/TFT_/status/1575073371687206912
“Let’s just play with cipher and not mention America’s name,” Imran Khan was heard saying to Azam in a conversation that was leaked to the public.
In reply, Azam proposed ways to Imran on using the cypher in order to carry forward PTI’s political agenda, advising that the-then foreign secretary Sohail Mahmood could be brought on board and the issue could be taken up at the bureaucratic level as well.
In another audio leak, he could also be heard discussing the ways to "play" with the sensitive diplomatic cypher in the presence of other PTI federal ministers.
https://twitter.com/TFT_/status/1575799922624196608
Jahangir Tareen accused Azam Khan for his rift with Imran Khan
Sources recalled that Istekham-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Chairman Jahangir Khan Tareen, who was at one time Imran Khan's closest confidante and financier, also blamed Azam Khan for creating a rift between him and the PTI chief.
"Azam was 'all-in-all' during PTI’s tenure and he enjoyed the complete trust of Imran Khan".
However, sources who have worked closely with Azam Khan told The Friday Times that while he was close, the nature of Azam Khan's relationship was one where he followed Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s directions, and it was Imran's decision to distance himself from Tareen.
When contacted, PTI’s Secretary Information Raoof Hasan told The Friday TImes that he wouldn't speculate on this report, saying it was "premature to offer comment" on it.
A testimony?
An officer from the Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) in basic pay scale (BPS) grade 22, Azam he was well-known in the power corridors of Islamabad and was considered as someone who knew all about the decisions made by Imran Khan as prime minister being his principal secretary.
“He was amongst the few individuals who was privy to all the decisions being taken by former premier, be it transfers and postings of officers, or financial dealings,” said one of the officials The Friday Times spoke to.
Sources involved or aware of developments in the case but who are not authorized to speak to the media about the matter, are hopeful that once Azam is reappears, he can come on the record in certain cases in which either he is implicated or Imran is.
While they did not identify which case in particular Azam could testify in, it was suggested that given his closeness to prime minister Imran Khan, any statement or testimony in a related case as a state witness by the former principal secretary could be potentially damaging for the PTI chairman.
When asked about his whereabouts, a senior official based in Islamabad expressed ignorance about that information, but was hopeful Azam Khan would "appear soon" and detail what had happened during Imran's tenure.
"Imran Khan is likely to land in hot water if Azam Khan becomes an approver against him, and it would be very difficult for Imran Khan to save himself".
Which cases could Azam implicate Imran in?
An official said that while they are unaware in which particular case Azam could be called upon to give testimony, the official did point to multiple cases where his testimony could be key.
“If Azam turns approver in the Toshakhana case or Al-Qadir Trust Case, or brings to surface other decisions taken by Imran Khan, then it won’t be easy for Imran Khan to come out clean," the official said, adding, "Azam Khan knows about records of awarding contracts and other things to businessmen, and other like-minded individuals against favours or personal gains.”
Agreeing with this, a source at the Prime Minister's Secretariat who had previously worked with Azam Khan, said that it would be a "huge breakthrough" if the authorities manage to secure Azam Khan's testimony and can put him on a witness stand against Imran Khan.
“Azam has the ultimate insider's account, and documented evidence against Imran Khan," the source said.
Azam Khan missing since June 15
The former principal secretary to the PM, who had previously served as chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) during Parvez Khattak’s tenure as chief minister, went missing on Thursday, June 15.
A first information report (FIR) was registered for his abduction on June 16 by Islamabad police after an application was submitted by his nephew. The application stated that Azam Khan went missing on June 15, evening. He left his home but did not return, and his mobile phone was switched off.
The Friday Times tried to reach out to Azam Khan's family and lawyer for comment but received no response.
'Playing' with the diplomatic cipher
It is pertinent to mention that in one of the leaked audio tapes, former premier Imran Khan could be heard telling Azam Khan to “play” with a diplomatic cypher from Pakistan's then-ambassador in Washington.
https://twitter.com/TFT_/status/1575073371687206912
“Let’s just play with cipher and not mention America’s name,” Imran Khan was heard saying to Azam in a conversation that was leaked to the public.
In reply, Azam proposed ways to Imran on using the cypher in order to carry forward PTI’s political agenda, advising that the-then foreign secretary Sohail Mahmood could be brought on board and the issue could be taken up at the bureaucratic level as well.
In another audio leak, he could also be heard discussing the ways to "play" with the sensitive diplomatic cypher in the presence of other PTI federal ministers.
https://twitter.com/TFT_/status/1575799922624196608
Jahangir Tareen accused Azam Khan for his rift with Imran Khan
Sources recalled that Istekham-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Chairman Jahangir Khan Tareen, who was at one time Imran Khan's closest confidante and financier, also blamed Azam Khan for creating a rift between him and the PTI chief.
"Azam was 'all-in-all' during PTI’s tenure and he enjoyed the complete trust of Imran Khan".
However, sources who have worked closely with Azam Khan told The Friday Times that while he was close, the nature of Azam Khan's relationship was one where he followed Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s directions, and it was Imran's decision to distance himself from Tareen.
When contacted, PTI’s Secretary Information Raoof Hasan told The Friday TImes that he wouldn't speculate on this report, saying it was "premature to offer comment" on it.