As the cipher resounded in media platforms amid much talked about ‘Intercept’ story, rivals are daggers drawn in the political arena with a renewed spirit. It is quite a lesson that how a simple issue can be twisted and transformed in a narrative suiting to political agenda. It is very hard for any sensible person to subscribe to the rhetorical interpretation of cipher overpitched by the former government of PTI. However, emotional supporters and cult followers always standout as the exceptions in such scenarios. Public anxiety and chaos linked to cipher issue merits a dispassionate review of the whole episode.
Cipher Episode: What Exactly Happened?
Pakistani envoy to the US, Asad Majeed Khan, sent the details of his meeting with an American diplomat Donald Lu to MOFA. Details of this routine meeting and assessment of the envoy was sent through a cipher following the SOPs dictated by the Official Secret Act during the first quarter of 2022.
It was a routine Cipher until disclosed in a public rally as a foreign sponsored regime change conspiracy by none other than the sitting PM himself. The disclosure was vague, as it lacked the specific reference to a foreign power, but inflammable amid looming VONC threat.
Nobody exactly knew the reality of paper waved by the then PM as cipher, however military leadership was openly maligned in the conspiracy plot. Details regarding subsequent NSC meeting, demarche to the US and extended debate over the terminologies of ‘intervention’ and ‘interference’ needs no further emphasis.
Post VONC Scenario: Contesting Political Narratives
PTI Camp: After losing in VONC, the former PM continued to overplay the Regime Change conspiracy narrative for understandable reasons-;
One, PTI exploited anti-US sentiments embedded in public perception in the context of the former PM’s Russia tour and the ‘absolutely not’ phrase.
Two, Keyboard warriors of PTI portrayed the former PM as a revolutionary anti-America icon and a victim of foreign-sponsored conspiracy.
Three, the former PM himself criticized the US, the then Army Chief, heads of national institutes and foreign based journalists for conspiring the VONC.
PDM Camp: After taking over the charge of the government, PDM and its allies continuously challenged the PTI’s rhetoric through multiple actions and arguments-:
One, Public disclosure of cipher was objected upon as violation of Official Secret Act
Two, NSC meeting reviewed the whole issue and re-endorsed the act of demarche to US as an appropriate response to the cipher issue
Three, the loss or displacement of Cipher by the former PM was projected as a malicious maneuver.
Four, audio leak of the former PM and Azam Khan about exploiting the cipher for political gains was vigorously referred to bust the populist rhetoric. The former PM’s phrase ‘Let’s play with it’ helped PDM a lot in exposing the real mindset of PTI.
Five, subsequently, confessional disclosures of Azam Khan and PTI dissenters were used extensively by PDM to counter the PTI rhetoric.
‘Intercept’ Story: Reality of Renewed Rhetoric
The following aspects merit attention in the backdrop of recent hype triggered with ‘Intercept’ story about Cipher episode-:
One, story is just the reproduction of already available information circulating on media platforms.
Two, intercept tried to stir sensation with an unauthentic story lacking credible sources
Three, critics, especially PDM supporters, are claiming that one of the co-authors of Pakistani origin is a known PTI campaigner. This objection seems valid with a visible alignment of the story with the rhetorical stance of PTI.
Four, twisted version of Cipher episode has been categorically rebutted and rejected by the US state department as well.
Five, intercept story has only been welcomed by the PTI quarters and their shadowy keyboard warriors.
Intent Behind the Rhetoric
It seems an effort to boost the diminishing populist rhetoric of PTI as evident with the publication of the story after the arrest and disqualification of the former PM in Tosha Khana scam. PTI is trying to reignite the cipher issue to repair the dents emerged in party after exodus of dissenting leaders. Besides, persistent hammering on such populist issues helps in diverting the attention of followers from the political blunders and corruption scams of party leadership.
What Needs to be Focused? Damages and Remedies
First, Immature cipher rhetoric by the former PM and his party dented the diplomatic repute of Pakistan.
Second, details regarding bilateral and multi-lateral diplomatic ties were discussed in public without considering the national interests linked to regional and global players.
Third, on the internal front, exploitative campaigns contributed in multiplying the polarization and uncertainty, which further accentuated the economic deterioration.
Fourth, there are serious questions on the prevailing SOPs as well as the nature of security protocols being followed in handling the secret or classified documents.
Fifth, this question is still unanswered that who had handed over the cipher or its content to the intercept? If at all, the content is correct! Cipher lost by the former PM has not yet been traced? Who should be punished for such kind of losses?
Sixth, above all a need prevails to make those accountable for irresponsible disclosures, who are duty bound under an oath to take along the state secrets in chest vault to their graves. Mishandling of secret information, its twisted disclosures and orchestration of malicious narratives are serious crimes prima facie. Mastermind of the Cipher drama and its key players must not be left unpunished.
(Writer is a freelance and can be reached at [email protected])
