A special court established under the Official Secrets Act has approved Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar’s bail in a case involving a US cipher after a prosecutor informed the judge that his detention was not necessary at this time.
The PTI leader's plea for pre-arrest bail in the cipher case involving the diplomatic cable that the PTI claimed included proof of US complicity in the overthrow of the Imran Khan-led government in April of last year was heard by Judge Abul Hasnat Mohammad Zulqarnain.
Special Prosecutor Shah Khawar informed the judge that "Asad Umar's arrest is not required in the case as of now, and no evidence against him has been gathered yet."
He said that if any evidence was found against Umar in the current inquiry into the cipher issue, Umar would be notified.
Following the prosecution's response, PTI lawyer Babar Awan requested the judge grant Umar's bail in the case.
Following the prosecutor's statement, the judge granted bail to the PTI leader in exchange for a 50,000 surety bond.
Umar showed a desire to participate in the cipher investigation, but the prosecution chose not to look into him in the case, Judge Zulqarnain observed.
The judge instructed the FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) to follow the law if Asad Umar's detention was necessary.
Additionally, he instructed the FIA to alert the PTI leader in advance of the arrest before making one.