Cipher Case: PTI chairman moves IHC for pre arrest bail

ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman approached on Saturday the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking post-arrest bail in the cipher case.

The case in question is related to the “misuse” of alleged contents of a diplomatic cipher, cited by ex-premier Imran as proof of an attempt to remove his government.

He is currently incarcerated at the Attock Jail. The bail plea was filed through the former PM’s counsel Salman Safdar.

The petition has named State and Interior Ministry Secretary Yousuf Naseem Khokar as respondents in the case.

IHC reserves verdict on jail trial in Cipher Case

On Thursday, Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Abul Hasnaat Muhammad Zulqarnain, who has been appointed as the judge of the special court to hear the cases registered under the Official Secrets Act from across the country, rejected bail petition of the former PM in the cipher case.

The special court also rejected former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s bail plea.

The verdict said that there appeared to be reasonable grounds for believing that the accused petitioners are guilty of offence under sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secret Act, 1923, in the light of the contents of the instant FIR. Moreover, there are also reasonable grounds for believing that the accused has committed non-bailable offence.

It further said that the record is sufficient for the purpose of discarding the bails of both the accused. In order to avoid any prejudicial design to the safety of the state for tentative assessment in future the restrictions during arguments will be opposed, who will be unnecessary and irrelevant persons during court proceedings.