Cipher Case Hearing Against Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi Adjourned Till October 9

In a recent development, a special court has decided to delay the hearing of a cipher case involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The hearing, which was scheduled for October 9, has been adjourned without any proceedings.

The special court session was presided over by Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, following the Ministry of Law’s notification. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team and the special prosecutor were present in the court for the hearing.

A team of 12 PTI leaders, including Barrister Salman Safdar, Sardar Latif Khosa, Raja Yasir, Naeem Haider Panjutha, Barrister Umair Khan Niazi, Chaudhary Khalid Yusuf, Niazullah Khan Niazi, Rai Muhammad Ali and others, were permitted to attend the hearing in Adiala jail.

The PTI’s legal team raised objections to the hearing taking place in Adiala jail and requested the court to postpone it until the Islamabad High Court (IHC) makes a decision regarding their plea challenging the in-camera trial of their clients. The IHC had recently reserved its verdict on the FIA’s request for an in-camera hearing on Imran Khan’s bail application in the cipher case, citing potential harm to Pakistan’s diplomatic relations if the matter were discussed publicly.

During the hearing the PTI legal team also declined to accept a copy of the FIA’s charge sheet, which had been submitted to the court the previous week. Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi both PTI leaders, remain on judicial remand until October 10 in connection with the cipher case.

Read More: Judicial remand of Imran Khan, Qureshi extended until Sept 26

The FIA’s charge sheet alleges that Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi misused a classified document for their political interests. The document was related to a cipher telegram received by the Foreign Ministry. The name of former PTI secretary-general Asad Umar was not included in the list of accused, while Imran Khan’s former principal secretary Azam Khan was named as a “strong witness” in the case. The FIA also attached transcripts of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s speeches from March 27, the day when Imran Khan claimed to possess a cipher from a foreign nation.

Read More: FIA Seeks In-Camera Hearing for Cipher Case Involving Imran Khan

The case, known as “Ciphergate,” originated when Imran Khan accused a foreign nation of conspiring against him and his government. Subsequent investigations and audio leaks added to the complexity of the case, leading to the involvement of law enforcement agencies and the establishment of a special court under the Official Secrets Act to try the accused.