The case of providing classified information to a Russian diplomat; The decision to suspend the police officer’s sentence continues

The Islamabad High Court has suspended the sentence of Federal Police ASI Zahoor, who was sentenced to three years under the Official Secrets Act on charges of passing classified information to a Russian diplomat.

In its written decision, the court has said that the threat alerts issued by Necta and the Ministry of Interior cannot be called secret information or secret documents. During this time, the appellant must ensure attendance at every hearing.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of Islamabad High Court issued a five-page written decision suspending the sentence of ASI Zahoor Ahmed. In the judgment, it has been said that according to the forensic analysis report, threat alert report messages were found from the mobile phone of the appellant, however, the threat alerts issued by Necta and the Ministry of Interior cannot be called secret information or confidential documents.

The court says that the appellant is entitled to the suspension of the sentence due to the short duration of the sentence and the possibility that the appeal will not be decided soon. The three-year prison sentence given to ASI Zahoor by the trial court is being suspended.

The court has directed that the appellant should deposit a surety bond of two lakh rupees which can be deposited in the form of cash while the convicted criminal ASI Zahoor Ahmed should appear in the court on every hearing date till the final decision on his appeal. .

It may be noted that a case was registered against ASI Zahoor on 13 December 2021 under the Official Secrets Act. On May 18, 2024, a special Official Secrets Act court sentenced him to three years in prison.