ISLAMABAD: On Monday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its verdict on Imran Khan’s petitions for post-arrest bail and quashing the cipher case against him.
This development occurred a day before a special court, established to try cases under the Official Secrets Act, is set to indict the former prime minister, who was removed from office in April 2022 through a vote of no-confidence, and PTI’s Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the diplomatic cable case.
The special court had previously scheduled October 17 for framing charges against the two in the case. Special court judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain will resume hearing the case in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Tuesday.
Imran Khan was booked under the Official Secrets Act 1923 in the cipher case on August 18, after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) invoked Section 5 of the said law. The diplomatic cable had reportedly gone missing from Khan’s possession. According to the former ruling party, the cable contained a threat from the US to topple the PTI’s government. Currently, Imran Khan is in Adiala jail on judicial remand in the cipher case. This comes after his three-year prison sentence in the Toshakhana case on August 5, 2023. Initially, he was in Attock jail but later requested a transfer to Adiala jail.
It’s worth noting that on August 29, the IHC suspended the sentence imposed on the PTI chairman in the Toshakhana case.
During the hearing, the FIA’s special prosecutor stated, “It is a case in which the suspect [Khan] confessed to his crime after committing it.”
Sardar Latif Khosa, Khan’s counsel, argued in response. He stated that his client did not make the diplomatic cable public. Khosa asserted that Khan had merely symbolically waved a piece of paper in the air.
The FIA prosecutor, however, maintained that the cipher was a secret document, and the information it containedshould not be public.
PTI Alleges Political Motivation in Khan’s Legal Process
The PTI labeled Khan as a “prisoner of conscience” and accused the legal process of being severely flawed and politically motivated.
The former ruling party strongly condemned the manipulation of justice in Khan’s case. They urged Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa to promptly address the situation.
The PTI’s statement suggested that the judiciary, particularly the top court, has failed to uphold the Constitution and protect fundamental rights guaranteed within it. Regarding the cipher case, the PTI expressed concerns that the state appeared to be pursuing a predetermined outcome, similar to the Toshakhana case.
the Case
In March 2022, Imran Khan claimed a foreign conspiracy against his government but didn’t reveal details. He accused the US of involvement. Later, investigations found no evidence of a conspiracy. Audio leaks implicated Khan, Asad Umar, and Azam discussing the issue. In September, the cabinet initiated action via the FIA. Khan challenged the summons and secured a stay order, which the Lahore High Court subsequently revoked.
