(Web Desk) — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and the party’s Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi have received major relief as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted them in the cipher case.

It is pertinent to mention here that both were previously sentenced to 10 years each for leaking state secrets and misusing a classified diplomatic document.

Despite their acquittal in this case, Khan and Qureshi are unlikely to be released from prison as they remain incarcerated on other charges. Khan, the former prime minister ousted via a no-confidence motion in April 2022, faces multiple charges ranging from corruption to terrorism. He has been in custody since August last year following his sentencing in the Toshakhana case and subsequent convictions in other cases, including cipher and illegal marriage cases. Due to his conviction in the illegal marriage case, Khan will remain imprisoned despite the recent relief.

Similarly, Qureshi, who served as foreign minister during the PTI tenure from 2018-2022, is facing charges in eight cases related to the events of May 9 last year. Both leaders are currently held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan expressed hope that Imran Khan would soon be released, calling the case baseless. Lawyer Ali Zafar also celebrated the verdict in a TV interview, predicting that Khan would be acquitted in the other cases as well.

Journalist and political analyst Mazhar Abbas described the acquittal as a significant political and legal victory but cautioned against assuming an imminent release for Khan, who still faces multiple accusations, including inciting violence against the state.