Trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the controversial cipher case was commenced on Tuesday in the special court that set up under the Official Secrets Act.
The duo was indicted in the cipher case on October 23. This indictment came despite their efforts to halt the proceedings through a petition under CrPC 265-D.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had booked them for violating the secret law, accusing them of misusing and misplacing a diplomatic cable based on conversations between Pakistan’s envoy to Washington and a US diplomat.
The essence of the case revolved around Imran Khan’s public rally on March 27, 2022, where he waved a letter before the crowd, claiming it was a cipher from a foreign nation. According to Khan, this document revealed a conspiracy between his political rivals and a foreign power to overthrow the PTI government.
During the recent court hearing, nine witnesses were present but were unable to record their statements in the cipher case.
Simultaneously, the PTI’s legal team submitted four applications, one of which sought the provision of witnesses’ names before each hearing. Additionally, Qureshi filed two applications, one for adjournment of the case without a hearing and another for adjournment based on a bail application filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Responding to PTI’s application for the complete challan, Judge Zulqarnain permitted the defense team to view the challan documents. However, they were prohibited from taking pictures or making copies. The court adjourned the case until November 7, where witnesses’ statements will be formally recorded.
Notably, Imran Khan’s plea to halt the proceedings against him in the cipher case was recently rejected by the IHC.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq emphasized the need for a “fair trial” and directed the special court to ensure justice in the case. Additionally, the IHC rejected the former prime minister’s pleas seeking bail and the cancellation of the First Information Report (FIR) related to the cipher case last Friday.
