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"Hard To Put A Limit": S Jaishankar On India-US Relationship

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S Jaishanakr said India and the US have a “very compelling need” to work together.

New Delhi:

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said today it is difficult to put a limit on the India-US relationship, and that the two countries now see each other as “desirable, optimal, and comfortable partners.”

Addressing an Indian community event in Washington DC, Mr Jaishankar said, “I am often asked, where do you think this relationship (India-US) is going…now it’s hard for me today, really, to put a limit on it, to define it, to even voice expectations, because in every way this relationship has exceeded expectations, which is why today we don’t even try to define it. We actually keep raising the bar.”

Mr Jaishankar held meetings with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, senior members of the US Administration, US business leaders, and think tank experts this week. The External Affairs Minister said that India and the United States have a “very compelling need” to work together and that it is in Washington’s interest to have partners who think and speak well of America.

“We keep finding new domains, the more we do with each other, the more we find we are able to do, explore together, and achieve together,” he added.

READ |“Must Talk To Each Other To Resolve Issue”: S Jaishankar Amid Row With Canada

“In this changing world, I would say, today, India and the United States have moved to a position where we really see each other as very desirable, optimal partners, comfortable partners, with whom it’s a natural instinct today. So, the chemistry and the comfort today of the relationship gives me enormous hope about where the prospects are,” he added.

Mr Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington recently, amid the diplomatic row with Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in June this year.

READ | “Let’s Not Normalise What’s Happening In Canada”: S Jaishankar

The foreign minister rejected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that Indian government agents were involved in Nijjar’s killing, saying it was “inconsistent with India’s policy.”

Mr Blinken expressed deep concern over Mr Trudeau’s allegations, saying that the US is urging the Indian government to cooperate with the investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Mr Jaishankar also met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday for a productive discussion on deepening bilateral defence cooperation between India and the US, including the co-production of defence articles. 

India

India, US see each other as very desirable, optimal, comfortable partners: EAM Jaishankar

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India, Us See

Washington DC: Stating that there is no limit to the India-US relationship, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that today, New Delhi and Washington see each other as desirable, optimal, comfortable partners.

The foreign minister was addressing the people of the Indian diaspora at the ‘Colors of Friendship’ event at India House in Washington DC. Hundreds of diaspora members gathered at the lawns of the official residence of India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, in honour of Jaishankar, listening and watching performances by local artists.

At the event, Jaishankar said, “I am often asked, where do you think this relationship (India-US) is going now it’s hard for me today, really, to put a limit on it, to define it, to even voice expectations, because in every way this relationship has exceeded expectations, which is why today we don’t even try to define it. We actually keep raising the bar”.

“We keep finding new domains, the more we do with each other, the more we find we are able to do, explore together and achieve together,” he added.

Emphasising ‘chemistry and comfort’, Jaishankar said that today India and the US have come up as ‘desirable, optimal and comfortable’ partners.

“In this changing world I would say, today, India and the United States have moved to a position where we really see each other as very desirable, optimal partners, comfortable partners, with whom it’s a natural instinct today So, the chemistry and the comfort today of the relationship gives mem enormous hope about where the prospects are,” he said.

Several senior officials of the Biden administration including; US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma, President Biden’s domestic policy advisor Neera Tanden, and Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Dr Rahul Gupta were part of the reception. US lawmakers Shri Thanedar and Rick McCormik, Democrat and Republican, were present at the event.

Just days away from Gamdhi Jayanti, Jaishankar paid floral Tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and made several remarks about the legacy of Gandhi.

Referring to India’s G20 presidency, the EAM stated that India’s G20 presidency revolved around the message of Mahatma Gandhi, which focusses on doing the right thing and leaving no one behind.

“We are approaching Gandhi Jayanti, I would like to leave you a thought. To say he (Mahatma Gandhi) was an extraordinary man would be the understatement of this century. He said so many things so tellingly…The message at the end of the day was about doing the right thing, about doing the decent thing and about leaving no one behind. Gandhi Ji’s message is very complicated, but its essence is actually very, very simple,” Jaishankar said.

He added, “When we took up the G20 presidency, the responsibility. In many ways, that message was at the heart of our thinking…What we tried to do in G20, the underlying thinking, reflected what we are trying to do in India, what I think many Americans are trying to do in America, what we India and America should be doing with the world, which is to leave no one behind”.

Jaishankar is on a visit to the US from September 22-30. He addressed the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He also held meetings with several top US officials during his visit.

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"Imran Khan Being Mentally Tortured In Jail," Alleges Lawyer: Report

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Imran Khan's Lawyer Says He's Being 'Mentally Tortured In Jail': Report

Imran Khan’s lawyer alleged he is not allowed to come out of that room even for a walk.

Islamabad:

The lawyer of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan alleged on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is being “mentally tortured” in the Adiala Jail, ARY News reported.

PTI chief lawyer Naeem Hairder Panjotha alleged that Khan is kept in a small room of C-class jail and is not allowed to come out of that room even for a walk.

Imran Khan’s counsel said that he doubts the quality of food being given to the former PM. Notably, the plea regarding food is still pending in the court.

Panjotha further questioned the in-camera hearing of cipher case and urged to proceed with the open trial of the case. He said the conviction of PTI chairman in cipher is a part of “campaign to keep the former PM out of politics”, ARY News reported.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rejected the challan submitted by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and demanded the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the cipher case.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the PTI spokesperson said that the challan submitted against party chairman and vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi was “meaningless and bogus as cipher case”.

In its challan, the FIA stated that Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were found guilty in the matter. The agency requested the court to conduct their trial and sentence them in the case.

Former PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar’s name has not been included in the list of accused, Geo News reported citing sources. Imran Khan’s former principal secretary Azam Khan has been named as a “strong witness” in the case, the report said.

Geo News reported citing sources, the names of former foreign secretaries Asad Majeed, Sohail Mehmood and the then additional foreign secretary Faisal Niaz Tirmizi have also been included in the list of witnesses.

On September 26, the special court extended the judicial remand of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi till October 10 in the cipher case. Earlier in August, the FIA booked the PTI chairman and vice chairman under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly misplacing and misusing the classified document for their vested political interests.

Subsequently, Khan and Qureshi were arrested in connection with the probe into the case and a special court was formed under the Official Secrets Act to try the accused, Geo News reported.

The ciphergate controversy first emerged on March 27, 2022, when Imran Khan just days before his ouster in April 2022 brandished a letter, claiming that it was a cipher from a foreign nation, which mentioned that his government should be removed from power, according to The News International report.

He did not reveal the contents of the letter nor mention the name of the nation that had sent it. But a few days later, he named the United States and said that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had sought his removal, The News International reported.

Imran Khan claimed that he was reading contents from the cipher, said that “all will be forgiven for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power”.

The cipher case against Pakistan’s former PM became serious after his principal secretary Azam Khan in a statement before a magistrate and the FIA said that the former PM had used the US cipher for his “political gains” and to avert a vote of no-confidence against him, The News International reported.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

World

Congress explores options to reopen Government amid looming shutdown

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If the government shuts down tonight, which seems likely as Congress is reluctant to pass the Senate’s stopgap measure for releasing $12 billion ($6 billion for Ukraine and $6 billion for disaster relief), there are no immediate alternatives to swiftly reopen the government treasury.

Published Date – 09:00 AM, Sun – 1 October 23


Congress explores options to reopen Government amid looming shutdown



Washington: As the US government is practically shutting down midnight Saturday, the Congress is now alternately exploring the possibilities of reopening the government to fund federal agencies if and when the shutdown occurs.

The New York Times in a dispatch on Saturday said that if the government shuts down tonight, which in all probability it will as Congress does not want to either admit or pass the senate’s stop gap measure to release $12 billion — $6 billion for Ukraine and an equal $6 billion for disaster relief work, it has no options to explore alternatives to quickly reopen the government treasury.

Congress will have to pass a spending patch to temporarily reopen while it works on the annual spending bills to fund federal agencies through the next fiscal year. Obviously, both approaches would need bipartisan support since the Senate and White House are controlled by Democrats, and the House by Republicans.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has some hard arithmetics in front of him to do to achieve that within his tight House majority. Or, he can try to pass a bill with Democrats, and risk his speakership, a double edged sword as far his position on shut down and holding onto his chair is concerned.

How did the government get into this messy situation in the first place?

The US government is careening toward a shutdown at midnight on Saturday because the Republican controlled Congress (222-213) has been unsuccessful in passing any of the 12 yearlong spending bills that funds the federal government, the Times said adding, the Congress is still stuck on the stopgap measure to keep funding flowing while lawmakers need to pass those annual spending bills.

The stopgap measure came in the form of a Continuing Resolution from the senate majority leader Chuck Schummer (D-NY), who wanted the house to accept a temporary measure to keep the government funded till October 31 to the tune of a minimum of $6 billion. But that found no support from Speaker McCarthy as he was unable to muster a majority for the admission of the motion with a section of hardliners led by Gaetz threatening to move a resolution to oust the speaker.

Why is the federal government all but certain to shutdown? 

Under the Constitution, Congress controls the purse strings and uses its powers by passing legislation each year to fund the government. There are 12 so-called appropriations bills, which run from October 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, until midnight the following September 30, 2024.

Congress failed this year to enact any of those measures, which has to be approved by both the House and Senate and signed by the president.

Without an ad hoc measure to temporarily fund the federal agencies, even as the two chambers debate to pass legislation, any resolution, any differences between the bills and congress fails to send the measures to President Biden, the government will shut down.

What is the big disagreement over spending? 

In the runup to the situation leading to the shutdown while avoiding a default on federal debt that crossed $33 trillion, Speaker McCarthy and President Biden agreed to cap federal spending for the next two years. The agreement specified that their deal would hold, instituting a requirement that Congress pass each individual spending bill on its own, rather than combining them all into a single passage bill law makers tried to do.

The agreement was passed on a bipartisan basis; but with the hard right opposing, McCarthy had to rely on Democratic votes to push it through the House. Right-wing lawmakers were livid about the deal, as it allowed far too much spending to their wishes, they wanted to renege on the funding levels agreed to in it. They wanted even deeper cuts that the Senate and White House will almost certainly reject.

What did Congress do to avert a shutdown? 

The Senate moved a vote as early as this weekend on a bipartisan spending patch, known as a “continuing resolution”, or “C.R.”, that would keep the government open through November 17 while providing $6 billion for aid to Ukraine and $6 billion for natural disaster relief in the US.

But McCarthy did not have the votes to pass that bill as a group of hard-right Republicans balked at continuing spending at current levels — even if was temporary — while others opposed allowing even a stopgap bill to pass. The logjam is still unresolved and is not likely to be, media reports said.

McCarthy could have most likely passed the Senate plan with a coalition of Republicans and Democrats. But some right-wing Republicans vowed to remove him from his post if he did so, the Times said.

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Asian Games Live: Aditi On Cusp Of Gold. But Lead Reduced To Just 1 Shot

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Asian Games 2023 October 1 Live Updates: After having a really good outing on Saturday, India would aim to continue its good form at the Asian Games 2023 on Sunday (October 1) too. Stars players like boxer Nikhat Zareen, athletes Jyothi Yarraji and Avinash Sable will be among top medal contenders for India. While Jyothi and Avinash will aim to finish on the podium in their respective categories, Nikhat, who is already assured of a bronze, will aim to better the colour of her medal on Sunday. Indian shooters will also be in spotlight. (Asian Games Medals Tally)

Here are the Live Updates of Asian Games 2023, October 1 Action:

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NIA files charge sheet in Kerala Train Arson case with three fatalities

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According to a spokesperson from the NIA, on Friday, charges were filed against Shahrukh, also known as Sharukh Saifi, 27, under multiple sections of the IPC, UA (P) Act, the Railways Act, and the PDPP Act

Published Date – 08:45 AM, Sun – 1 October 23


NIA files charge sheet in Kerala Train Arson case with three fatalities



New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday said that it filed a charge sheet against the sole accused in the Kerala train arson case, in which three passengers, including a child, were killed and nine others injured.

A NIA spokesperson here said that the agency has filed charge sheet against Shahrukh aka Sharukh Saifi, 27, on Friday under various sections of the IPC, UA (P) Act, the Railways Act, and the PDPP Act.

Shahrukh is accused of committing the terror act by setting the D1 coach of Alappuzha– Kannur Executive Express on fire on April 2 this year.

In its charge sheet, the anti-terror probe agency alleged that Shahrukh was the sole accused in the gory case, as he had thrown and sprinkled petrol on the passengers and set the coach on fire with a lighter with the intention to kill people.

The official said that Shahrukh, a resident of Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area had boarded the moving Alappuzha- Kannur Executive Express, committed the terror act, and continued to travel in the same train till Kannur, before escaping to Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, from where he was eventually arrested.

The official said that its probe revealed that he had travelled to Kerala from New Delhi on March 31 and reached the state on April 2. “He purchased petrol from a petrol bunk in Shoranur and a lighter from a nearby store at Shoranur Railway Station,” the official said, adding that he had chosen Kerala for the act involving terror and arson as he wanted to commit his Jihadi act in a location where he would not be recognised.

“He had intended to return to normal life after the commission of the act, aimed at creating terror in the minds of the general public. He was self-radicalised through various online propaganda material available on social media in favour of violent extremism and Jihad, as propagated by radical Islamic preachers of Indian and foreign nationalities,” the official said.

It also said that in this process, he followed radical and hardline Islamic preachers including those who are Pakistan-based, on social media platforms. “He had committed the arson as a Jihadi terror act in pursuance of the online radicalisation,” the official said.

A case was registered at Kozhikode Railway Police Station in Kerala and later by Special Investigation Team, Kerala. On April 17, the NIA took over the case on orders from the MHA. During the course of its investigations, NIA conducted searches in 10 locations in Delhi and seized digital devices. Several witnesses were questioned and CCTV footage from the Railway Station were also seized.

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US Congress passes 11th-hour ‘temporary’ bill to avert govt. shutdown as deadline looms

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The US Capitol, which houses Congress, is seen in the background following the passage of a 45-day continuing resolution at the end of the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, the United States, on September 30, 2023. (Photo by Reuters)

With only hours left to avoid the fourth partial shutdown of the United States’ government in a decade, Congress has passed a temporary measure to keep the government funded for another 45 days.

The Democratic-majority Senate voted 88-9 in a late Saturday session to pass the measure, sending it to President Joe Biden to be signed into law before the 12:01 a.m. ET (0401 GMT) deadline for the government shutdown.

Congress’ approval came a few hours after the House of Representatives passed the measure 335-91 after Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy broke ranks with those party members who insisted that any bill had to pass the chamber with only Republican votes.

A total of 209 Democrats supported the bill, which was far more than the 126 Republicans who did so, prompting Democrats to describe the result as a win.

“Extreme MAGA Republicans have lost…,” top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries said. He was citing the acronym for former President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” motto that has many Republican buyers across the two chambers of the US Congress.

The so-called stopgap bill is slated to keep the government open until the middle of November.

The standoff over the budget had raised worries on Wall Street, with the Moody’s ratings agency warning it could damage US creditworthiness.

A shutdown could also see millions of federal employees and military personnel sent home or required to work without pay.

Biden had earlier warned that a shutdown could take a heavy toll on American troops, saying “We can’t be playing politics while our troops stand in the breach. It’s an absolute dereliction of duty.”

The temporary measure features a freeze on the government’s multi-billion-dollar flow of military assistance towards Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia. This is while arming and funding what many observers consider as the US’ proxy war against Russia has been a key policy plank for Biden’s administration.

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Watch: MS Dhoni's Tennis Skills Amazes Internet. Fans Can't Keep Calm

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Legendary India captain and wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni was spotted in a tennis court. In a couple of old videos that are going viral on social media, Dhoni could be seen showing his tennis skills, sending netizens in a frenzy. While some of the fans praised the skill of Dhoni in the sport which is way different from cricket, others were quick to notice his muscular body. While Dhoni is among the greatest cricketers, his love for the sport of tennis is also known to all.

Watch the viral videos here:

Former India captain MS Dhoni continues to inspire upcoming generation of cricketers. Having achieved almost everything as a player and a captain, Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in August 2020, remains down-to-earth on and off the field.

The 42-year-old is arguably India’s greatest-ever captain, having led the team to three major ICC triumphs.

Under him, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.

Overall, he led India in 332 matches, the most by a captain in international cricket. Out of these, he won 178, lost 120, tied six and 15 ended in a no-result. His win percentage as a captain is 53.61. This combined with the trophies he has won, makes him India’s most successful captain ever.

In these 332 matches, he scored 11,207 runs in 330 innings at an average of 46.89 and a strike rate of over 76. He scored 11 centuries and 71 fifties as a captain, with the best score of 224. Safe to say, the burden of captaincy did not affect MS at all.

His success at the international level spilled over to franchise cricket as well. He represented and led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dhoni won five IPL titles with CSK in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. He also won two Champions League T20 titles with CSK in 2010 and 2014.

(With ANI Inputs)

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India

West Bengal: BSF foils arms smuggling attempt at International Border

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BSF Jawans stationed at the International Border of West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle arms

Published Date – 08:15 AM, Sun – 1 October 23


West Bengal: BSF foils arms smuggling attempt at International Border



North 24 Parganas: Border Security Force (BSF) Jawans stationed at the International Border of West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle arms across the International Border.

The smugglers had been attempting to transport these confiscated weapons from India into Bangladesh, according to a press release.

Jawans of BOP Madhupur, 68 Battalion, BSF under South Bengal Frontier seize four foreign-made pistols, eight magazines, and 50 live cartridges. added the release.

The official statement further said that the incident took place at Madhupur of 68 Battalion deployed at the International border of North 24 Parganas when the Jawans at around 12:30 am saw that three persons were coming from the Bangladesh side while another Jawan saw a person coming from the Indian side with some goods.

Jawans warned them and tried to stop the smugglers but when they continued to move forward, the soldiers fired non-lethal weapons, said the official statement.

The press release further said that upon hearing the sound of fire, the smugglers took advantage of the dense bushes and ran back in their respective directions which was followed by a thorough search of the area by BSF jawans during which a bag was recovered containing four foreign-made pistols, eight magazines, and 50 live cartridges. The seized items were handed over to the police station, added the release.

DIG, Public Relations Officer, BSF South Bengal Frontier, AK Arya has expressed happiness over the achievements of the soldiers.

He said that the intelligence department of BSF is working to find out who is behind the seized weapons.

Preventing such type of smuggling has been possible only due to the vigilance displayed by the soldiers on duty, he added.

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"Imran Khan Being Mentally Tortured In Jail," Alleges Lawyer: Report

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'Imran Khan Being Mentally Tortured In Jail,' Alleges Lawyer: Report

Imran Khan’s lawyer alleged he is not allowed to come out of that room even for a walk.

Islamabad:

The lawyer of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan alleged on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is being “mentally tortured” in the Adiala Jail, ARY News reported.

PTI chief lawyer Naeem Hairder Panjotha alleged that Khan is kept in a small room of C-class jail and is not allowed to come out of that room even for a walk.

Imran Khan’s counsel said that he doubts the quality of food being given to the former PM. Notably, the plea regarding food is still pending in the court.

Panjotha further questioned the in-camera hearing of cipher case and urged to proceed with the open trial of the case. He said the conviction of PTI chairman in cipher is a part of “campaign to keep the former PM out of politics”, ARY News reported.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rejected the challan submitted by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and demanded the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the cipher case.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the PTI spokesperson said that the challan submitted against party chairman and vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi was “meaningless and bogus as cipher case”.

In its challan, the FIA stated that Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were found guilty in the matter. The agency requested the court to conduct their trial and sentence them in the case.

Former PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar’s name has not been included in the list of accused, Geo News reported citing sources. Imran Khan’s former principal secretary Azam Khan has been named as a “strong witness” in the case, the report said.

Geo News reported citing sources, the names of former foreign secretaries Asad Majeed, Sohail Mehmood and the then additional foreign secretary Faisal Niaz Tirmizi have also been included in the list of witnesses.

On September 26, the special court extended the judicial remand of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi till October 10 in the cipher case. Earlier in August, the FIA booked the PTI chairman and vice chairman under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly misplacing and misusing the classified document for their vested political interests.

Subsequently, Khan and Qureshi were arrested in connection with the probe into the case and a special court was formed under the Official Secrets Act to try the accused, Geo News reported.

The ciphergate controversy first emerged on March 27, 2022, when Imran Khan just days before his ouster in April 2022 brandished a letter, claiming that it was a cipher from a foreign nation, which mentioned that his government should be removed from power, according to The News International report.

He did not reveal the contents of the letter nor mention the name of the nation that had sent it. But a few days later, he named the United States and said that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had sought his removal, The News International reported.

Imran Khan claimed that he was reading contents from the cipher, said that “all will be forgiven for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power”.

The cipher case against Pakistan’s former PM became serious after his principal secretary Azam Khan in a statement before a magistrate and the FIA said that the former PM had used the US cipher for his “political gains” and to avert a vote of no-confidence against him, The News International reported.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)