ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi have been sentenced to 10 years, each, in the cipher case on Tuesday.
Special court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain announced the decision today at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi in the presence of both the PTI leaders.
The judge has been holding hearings of the case in Adiala Jail since it started last year.
The court, established under the Official Secrets Act 2023, has been conducting hearings in Adiala Jail since the case commenced last year.
The politicians, accused of misusing diplomatic cables for political purposes, pleaded not guilty. Prior to the verdict, Judge Zulqarnain, during the hearing, reminded the PTI leaders that their lawyers were absent, and state lawyers were provided.
The court noted that Qureshi and Imran were given questions under 342, but Qureshi argued that without his lawyers present, they couldn’t record their statements. The verdict followed a disrupted hearing the previous day due to a disturbance caused by Imran and Qureshi in the courtroom.
As their defense lawyers once again failed to appear, the judge appointed state counsel on Saturday to represent Imran and Qureshi. Malik Abdul Rehman and Hazrat Younus were assigned to represent the PTI leaders and cross-examine prosecution witnesses.
In November of the previous year, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared the jail trial “null and void” after Khan and Qureshi challenged their indictment. However, the federal cabinet approved the resumption of the jail trial, and both politicians were indicted for the second time on December 13.
On December 22, the Supreme Court granted post-arrest bail to Imran and Qureshi in the case. Despite this, Imran remained incarcerated due to other cases, and Qureshi was rearrested in a fresh case. Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb of the IHC, acting on PTI’s petition, temporarily halted the special court’s proceedings until January 11.
On January 11, the IHC invalidated all proceedings after December 14, 2023, and set aside orders related to the in-camera trial. The stay order was later withdrawn after state counsel assured that witness statements would be recorded again.
Meanwhile, Gohar Khan, a PTI leader expressed serious concerns over the ongoing legal proceedings against PTI founder Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Speaking to the media, Gohar highlighted the unusual circumstances surrounding the cases, stating, “Even today, the cases of PTI founder are going on in Adiala Jail.” He criticized the establishment of two separate courts for the proceedings, expressing his dismay over the perceived compromise of justice.
“In the cipher trial case, the judge called PTI as a separate court,” Gohar said, raising questions about the integrity of the legal process. He further emphasized the irregularity, questioning how the PTI founder could appear in the first court and then be expected to attend the second court.
The PTI leader specifically noted the termination of the right of defense by the judge in Rawalpindi, casting doubt on the fairness of the legal proceedings.
Expressing his lack of confidence in the lawyers representing Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, he labeled the situation as a violation of the law and constitution.
More to follow……….
