ISLAMABAD (Daily Point) – A special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, has commenced the trial of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday.
These two PTI leaders were indicted in the cipher case on October 23, despite their attempts to prevent the indictment by filing a petition under CrPC 265-D. The charges against them stem from their alleged misuse and misplacement of a diplomatic cable, containing conversations between Pakistan’s envoy to Washington and a US diplomat, thereby violating the Official Secrets Act.
According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Khan and Qureshi have been found guilty in this matter, and they have requested the court to proceed with their trial and issue appropriate sentences. The FIA also claims that Khan possessed a copy of the cipher but did not return it.
This controversy initially surfaced on March 27, 2022, when Imran Khan, during a public rally, presented a letter to the audience, asserting that it was a cipher from a foreign nation. He alleged that this cipher was evidence of a conspiracy involving his political rivals to overthrow the PTI government.
During today’s court hearing, sources report that the witnesses, with nine of them present, were unable to provide their statements regarding the cipher case.
In the meantime, the PTI’s legal team has submitted four applications, one of which seeks the provision of the witnesses’ names prior to each hearing. Additionally, two applications were filed by Shah Mahmood Qureshi, one requesting an adjournment of the case without a hearing, and another seeking an adjournment based on a bail application filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
In response to the PTI’s application for access to the complete challan, Judge Zulqarnain has allowed the defense team to view the challan documents, but they are prohibited from taking pictures or making copies. The case has been adjourned until November 7, with plans to formally record the witnesses’ statements during the next hearing.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) recently rejected Imran Khan’s plea to halt proceedings in the cipher case. The IHC Chief Justice, Aamer Farooq, has directed the special court to ensure a “fair trial” for the former prime minister.
Furthermore, the IHC also rejected Imran Khan’s pleas for bail and the cancellation of the first information report (FIR) in the cipher case last week.
