ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday stayed the proceedings in the cipher case against PTI founder Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi until January 11, 2024.
The Special Court constituted under the Official Secrets Act had begun the cipher trial afresh last week at the Adiala district jail in Rawalpindi after Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi were indicted for a second time in the case on December 13.
At the outset of the hearing, the court led by Justice Miangul Hassan Orangzeb rejected the PTI’s request seeking an immediate stay order on Imran Khan’s in-camera trial in the case as it issued a notice to the federation.
The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic paper that the Federal Investigation Agency’s charge sheet alleges was never returned by Imran as the prime minister of the country.
Khan and his aide Qureshi were first indicted in the case on October 23. Both had pleaded not guilty. Four witnesses had already recorded their statements as the IHC termed the government’s announcement of the prison trial as “flawed” and quashed the entire proceedings.
On Friday, the Supreme Court granted bail in the case after the arrest of Imran Khan and Qureshi. Last week, Imran questioned the trial at Adiala jail and other developments, including framing of charges and a media gag order. Four witnesses had already recorded their statements as the IHC termed the government’s announcement of the prison trial as “flawed” and quashed the entire proceedings.
On Friday, the Supreme Court granted bail in the case after the arrest of Imran Khan and Qureshi. Last week, Imran questioned the trial at Adiala jail and other developments, including framing of charges and a media gag order. The PTI founder had also sought an immediate stay on the cipher trial.
