The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday rendered null and void the jail trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the cipher case, citing procedural irregularities.
The verdict was announced by a two-member division bench shortly after it was reserved earlier in the day.
The bench was comprised of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Riffat Imtiaz.
The trial was initiated following an indictment by a special court on October 23 which was challenged by Imran Khan.
The Law Ministry had previously issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the jail trial, as requested by the Interior Ministry and special court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain on August 29.
During the today’s hearing, Justice Aurangzeb remarked that a detailed order would be issued later, signaling a comprehensive examination of the case.
The court’s decision effectively nullifies the proceedings that occurred within the jail premises.
This development follows the suspension of Khan’s jail trial on November 14 by the high court in the cipher case.
The caretaker federal cabinet had earlier approved the jail trial of Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in response to concerns related to security and the sensitive nature of the case.
Imran Khan had initially sought relief from the IHC against the jail trial, but the single bench, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, rejected his plea on October 16.
The court suggested approaching the trial court with any persisting reservations, leading Khan to file an intra-court appeal against this decision.
The cipher case, commonly referred to as “Ciphergate,” originated on March 27, 2022, when Khan, addressing a public rally, claimed to possess a letter containing a cipher from a foreign nation plotting against his government. The controversy escalated as Khan accused the United States of involvement and implicated Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu.
In August of the same year, Khan and Qureshi were booked under the Official Secrets Act 1923 in the cipher case after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) invoked Section 5 of the said law. The diplomatic cable, allegedly containing a threat to topple the PTI government, went missing from Khan’s possession.
Former Attorney General of Pakistan, Ashtar Ausaf Ali, clarified that jail trials are not conducted for sensationalism but rather due to security concerns, witness safety, and the confidentiality of certain matters, including those related to national security.
