ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, former prime minister Imran Khan challenged the in-camera trial of the ongoing cipher case by filing a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
In the application, it was requested that the special court’s decision regarding the in-camera trial be reversed and that the special court’s proceedings be suspended until a ruling is reached on this petition.
Barrister Salman Akram Raja, representing the PTI, argued in the application that the special court’s ruling on December 14 went against the Pakistani Constitution and that the special court’s decision to prohibit media coverage of the hearing went against directives given by the IHC on November 21.
Imran emphasised in his plea that justice ought to be both accomplished and witnessed. The ex-prime minister also did what was required of him by the constitution, according to the plea.
“The presence of the public and the media is essential to fulfil the fundamentals of justice,” the petition stated.
On December 14, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) petitioned the special court that was set up under the Officials Secret Act 1923 to seek an in-camera trial for Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the former prime minister and foreign minister. Adiala jail has been hosting the trials.
A cryptogram
It all started when Imran held up a document at a march in Islamabad on March 27, 2022, and claimed it as proof of a “international conspiracy”; a vote of no-confidence eventually toppled his government.
The so-called “cypher-gate” investigation was launched by the FIA on July 19, 2023, following the announcement of a formal inquiry against Imran and his allies by the previous coalition administration for OSA violations.
A municipal court in Islamabad convicted Imran in the Toshakhana case, and he was arrested on August 5. His subsequent arrest on August 29 was also related to the cypher case.
The former foreign minister Qureshi and Imran were both indicted under sections 5 and 9 of the OSA, according to the challan filings. The prospect of life in jail without parole or the death penalty is inherent in these laws.
An IHC division bench eventually ordered a new open court trial after annulling the previous procedures that had begun within the Adiala jail during the cypher trial.
