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ISLAMABAD: Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a former foreign minister and vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was on judicial detention for 14 days in a cipher case on Wednesday by a special court established to hear cases under the Official Secrets Act.

After a two-day physical remand ended today, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) brought the former foreign minister before the special court.

The case hearing was presided over by Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), who has been given additional responsibility for the special court.

The FIA's special prosecutor pleaded with the court to extend physical remand at the hearing, claiming they needed more time to locate Qureshi's cellphone and diplomatic cable.

Judge Zulqarnain refused the request, expressing annoyance over the repeated requests for an extension.

The FIA's Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) detained Qureshi earlier this month after receiving a complaint from Interior Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar alleging violations of Sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act of 1923, r/w 34 PP.

Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, a former foreign minister, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi are involved in communications of information contained in a secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs), according to the findings of the investigation No. 111/2023 dated October 5, 2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad.

Judge Zulqarnain prolonged PTI Chairman Imran Khan's judicial remand in the cipher case earlier today, prior to Qureshi's hearing, until September 13.

Following approval by the Law Ministry and amid security worries raised by the Interior Ministry, the case was heard at the Attock District Jail.

Since being found guilty in the Toshakhana case on August 5 for failing to properly disclose gifts he received while in government, Khan has been incarcerated.