RAWALPINDI / ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), voiced his protest on Monday regarding the treatment he received in Adiala jail during the cipher case hearing. His lawyer, Salman Safdar, stated that Khan requested to be treated on par with other prisoners.
Safdar addressed the media following his attendance at a special court hearing of the cipher case held in Adiala jail.
He reported, “The chairman vigorously protested that the room provided to him was unfit for habitation, and the cell made it extremely challenging for him to move or walk comfortably.” Safdar further observed that he believed the PTI chief had elevated blood pressure during today’s hearing.
Safdar stated, “The PTI chief vehemently protested during the court proceedings.”
Additionally, the lawyer requested that the case’s trial be conducted in an open court to ensure public transparency, emphasizing that conducting the trial within the confines of a jail was inappropriate.
Meanwhile, the PTI chief’s other lawyer, Sher Afzal Marwat, revealed that the PTI chief and his deputy, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, were confined to a “cage-like” area for the hearing, a condition he deemed unfit even for individuals accused of terrorism.
Marwat also expressed his displeasure with the judge’s demeanor, asserting that Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain had adopted a confrontational approach during the proceedings.
Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi to be indicted on Oct 17
During today’s hearing, the special court scheduled the indictment of the PTI chairman and vice chairman in the cipher case for October 17. Both leaders, incarcerated in Adiala jail, appeared before special court Judge Zulqarnain.
The court decided on the indictment date after providing copies of the challan, submitted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), to the accused’s legal counsels. Subsequently, government witnesses were served with notices.
Following these proceedings, the hearing was adjourned.
In the previous hearing, the PTI lawyers had objected to conducting the case in Adiala jail and had requested a postponement until the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled on their plea challenging the in-camera trial of their clients. The PTI legal team had also declined to accept a copy of the FIA challan.
However, on the same day, the IHC ruled that the PTI chief’s bail plea would be heard in an open court.
The Charge sheet
The FIA, in its challan, found the former prime minister and vice-chairman guilty and requested the court to conduct their trial and impose sentences.
Former PTI secretary-general Asad Umar was not included in the list of accused. However, Khan’s former principal secretary, Azam Khan, was named as a “strong witness.”
The FIA attached Azam’s statements recorded under Sections 161 and 164 to the challan, asserting that the PTI chief retained the cipher and misused the state secret.
The agency also submitted the transcript of Khan and Qureshi’s March 27 speech, during which the former premier presented a letter as a cipher from a foreign nation that purportedly sought the removal of his government from power.
Furthermore, the FIA presented a list of 28 witnesses to the court, all of whom had their statements recorded under Section 161. This list included former foreign secretaries Asad Majeed, Sohail Mehmood, and the then additional foreign secretary Faisal Niaz Tirmizi.
In August of this year, the FIA booked the PTI chief and the party’s vice chairman under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly mishandling and misusing a classified document for their political gain.
The FIR stated that Khan, Qureshi, and their associates had shared classified information contained in a secret document with unauthorized individuals, twisting facts for personal gain, to the detriment of state security. Both leaders were subsequently arrested, and a special court was established under the Official Secrets Act to try them.
Ciphergate
The controversy began on March 27, 2022, when Imran Khan claimed to possess a foreign cipher implicating a conspiracy against his government. The National Security Committee issued a complaint to the US. After Khan’s removal, a committee probed audio leaks discussing the cipher’s use.
In October, the case was handed to the FIA, with Khan challenging their summons. In July, the Lahore High Court lifted the stay order against Khan’s summons by the FIA.
