IHC issues stay order against jail trial of Imran Khan in cipher case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued on Tuesday a stay order against jail trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the cipher case, Aaj News reported.

IHC halted the proceedings of the cipher case against the former prime minister before adjourning the court till November 16.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, announced the decision while hearing an intra-court appeal by PTI chief against his trial in Adiala Jail.

Families of IK, Qureshi permitted to attend cypher trial

During the hearing, Attorney General Mansoor Awan presented his arguments before the court from the government side.

He informed that the government had approved the jail trial of Imran Khan and the notification would be presented to the court.

Today’s proceedings were followed by the last week’s hearing, when PTI Imran Khan’s counsel Barrister Salman Akram Raja requested the IHC to hold an open court trial of the cipher case.

PTI assails IHC for rejecting IK’s bail plea

“If the general public, media, and family members of the accused intended to witness the proceedings of the cipher case, they should be permitted,” Raja said in the previous hearing.

He asserted that all people would see that no offence at all was committed in the cipher case.

Cipher case background

A case was registered against Imran Khan and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi under Sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

According to the copy of the FIR registered on August 15, consequent upon the conclusion of inquiry No 111/2023 upon the complaint registered in the Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW), FIA, it transpired that former prime minister namely, Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and their other associates were involved in the communication of information contained in the secret classified document (cipher telegram received from Parep Washington dated March 7, 2022, to secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised persons (i.e., public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their “ulterior motives” and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security.

Last month, the special court indicted Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case.