Imran indicted in cipher case, could face death penalty if convicted

A Pakistani special court indicted on Monday jailed former PM Imran Khan and his incarcerated deputy, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, under the Official Secrets Act of 1923 in a cipher case linked to making public the contents of a classified diplomatic cable. ​The charge has added to legal hurdles that the PTI chief has been facing since his removal from office in 2022. Indictment for leaking confidential information carries a penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment and, in extreme cases, the death penalty, legal experts say.