Cipher case: IHC extends stay in Imran Khan’s jail trial case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has extended the stay on the jail trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Cahirman and former prime minister Imran Khan until November 20.

The intra-court appeal was heard by IHC judge Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, while the attorney general, the special prosecutor and Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja appeared before the court.

During the proceedings, Justice Mian Gul Hasan expressed concerns about the court’s setup in a confined 10-by-10 room within the jail premises.

The special prosecutor clarified that the initial courtroom had a limited capacity of 15 to 16 individuals.

The attorney ceneral informed the court that three witnesses had recorded their statements on November 7, followed by two more on November 14.

The court said that the witnesses recorded statements in a situation like it happens during indictment.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi to approach SC for bail in cipher case

Responding to concerns about the court’s facilities in the jail, the attorney general argued that the small courtroom size did not imply a closed trial. He asserted that the cypher case trial in the jail was open, emphasizing that the relatively larger room was now being utilized for court proceedings.

Imran Khan’s lawyer requested an extension of the stay in the jail trial of the cipher case. The court accepted the plea and granted the extension, adjourning the hearing and maintaining the stay until November 20.

Cipher case against Imran Khan

The cipher case against Imran Khan is a legal case that accuses him of leaking state secrets and using them for political gain. The case is based on a confidential cable, or cypher, that was sent by Pakistan’s ambassador to the US in March 2022.

The cable allegedly reveals that the US had pressured Pakistan’s military to remove Imran Khan as prime minister over his neutrality on the Russian invasion of Ukraine⁴. Imran Khan claims that the cable proves his innocence and exposes the US interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.

The cipher case was filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against Imran Khan and his former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in August 2023.

They were charged with violating the Official Secrets Act and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. The case is being heard by a special court at the Attock Jail, where Imran Khan is currently in custody.

Imran Khan’s judicial custody in the cipher case has been extended until November 20, 2023 by the court. He has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court to dismiss the cipher case and challenge the jurisdiction of the special court. Imran Khan’s lawyer has argued that the cipher case is politically motivated and based on fabricated evidence.