Cipher Case: The indictment of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, scheduled for today, has been deferred till October 23. Special court judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain conducted the cipher case hearing against Chairman PTI Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the Adiala Jail today.
During the Cipher Case hearing, the FIA special prosecutor, Shah Khawar, Khan, Qureshi, and their legal teams were in the courtroom. The indictment has been put off for a week as the challan copies had not been issued to the accused at the last hearing.
Following the issuance of challan copies today, Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be indicted in the cipher case at the next hearing. PTI chairman and Qureshi were presented before the court in a type room, PTI lawyer Salman Safdar stated.
He further said that 164 statements from 22 people to hold a press conference against Imran Khan regarding the May 9 events have been taken. Based on these statements, Safdar expressed fear of Imran Khan being sent to a military court.
A PTI lawyer also said that Imran Khan has conveyed to the nation that “workers must show patience wherever the trial of the PTI chairman is conducted.”
The cipher case hearing will be conducted on October 23. Former prime minister Imran Khan remained behind bars for over two months as he was detained in the Toshakhana case.
Although the Islamabad High Court (IHC) revoked his jail sentence on August 29, he could not be freed as he had already been arrested in the cipher case from jail.
On August 19, Shah Mahmood Qureshi was arrested by the FIA in connection with the ongoing investigation into a diplomatic cipher that had gone missing from the possession of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
On August 15, Qureshi was charged with a missing classified document.
The case was registered against Qureshi under Sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act 1923, promulgated into law earlier today after being signed by the president.
The complaint said that Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Qureshi, and their associates communicate information in secret classified documents by “twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a matter prejudicial to the interests of state security.”