ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s petition challenging the trial court’s orders for an in-camera trial in the cipher case today (Thursday).
A special court established under the Official Secrets Act 2023 had, on December 14 accepted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s plea to conduct an in-camera hearing of ex-PTI chief and Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case. Both of the PTI leaders are incarcerated at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
The former prime minister has contested the special court’s decision, which also imposed a restriction on reporting the proceedings, moving the court to nullify the December 14 orders and restrict the trial court from holding further proceedings till a decision on his petition.
The plea stated that a trial in the presence of the media and public is important to fulfil the requirements of justice.
Special court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain in his verdict on December 14 stated that family members would be given access to the courtroom during the hearing.
A bench, headed by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb will hear the petition today, as per a cause list issued by the IHC registrar. Imran Khan has also challenged the trial court proceedings in a separate plea submitted to the court.
Earlier, the charges were framed against the two politicians on October 23. Following the indictment, the regular trial of the cipher case on the charges of leaking state secrets was being held in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. Last month, the duo also challenged their indictment in the case and the IHC declared their jail trial “null and void” while allowing their intra-court appeals in the case.
However, the federal cabinet yet again approved the summary of holding jail trial of both politicians in jail following which the trial continued, leading to the indictment of both Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi for the second time.
