New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) The chairman of Pakistani Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition party, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and its vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, have both been officially charged with violating the Official Secrets Act, Pakistani TV channel GEO reported on Monday.

Khan, who was removed from power in April 2022 after a no-confidence vote, and Qureshi pleaded not guilty, the channel reported, citing sources.

The charge claims Khan and his assistants leaked the contents of a classified cable which was sent to Islamabad by the Pakistani ambassador to Washington in the beginning of 2022, to unauthorized persons and distorted the facts to claim that the United States was behind a conspiracy to topple his government. Moreover, the ex-prime minister is charged with illegally keeping a copy of the document.

In accordance with the Pakistani Official Secrets Act, the accused might be sentenced to 2-14 years' imprisonment or to the death penalty.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK