Cipher Case: PTI Chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi indicted

ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman and Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi Monday have been indicted in the Cipher case.

Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain heard the case at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Howevever, both the suspects have pleaded not guilty.

The former prime minister declared the case as “false, politically motivated, based on vengeance and a pack of lies. I will prove my innocence.”

The PTI lawyers team is being led by Naeem Haider Panjotha, while the FIA team is also present in the court with the complete case record.

The judge summoned the witnesses to appear in the court on October 27 to testify in the case.

Rejectign another application from Imran Khan to defere the charge-sheet, the judge remarked: “Today is the day for indictment.”

During the previous hearing on October 17, Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s indictment could not take place because they were not provided with copies of the challan. However, the challan copies were distributed during the same hearing and October 23 was fixed for their indictment.

Both Imran Khan and Qureshi received the copies and signed them.

There are 28 witnesses in the cipher case, the official witnesses will be called after the indictment. According to Prosecutor Shah Khawar, today’s hearing is scheduled only for indictment, apart from the indictment, there will be no other action.

Shah Khawar said that the court has prepared the indictment document and today the two accused will be handed over the papers.

Due to the indictment proceedings, the police have made very strict security arrangements outside the Adiala Jail while additional police personnel have also been deployed.

On the previous hearing, copies of the investigation report were handed over to the suspects.