ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the party’s leader, met at the Adiala Jail to discuss the Cypher issue.
This was the first time the two leaders had ever met each other. In an unusual setup, a net was placed between the courtroom and Imran and the ex-foreign minister.
The PTI legal team briefly spoke with the party leader over the internet. And according to our sources, Imran “appeared to be in a normal state” throughout the entire hour-long session.
Lawyers for the PTI leader said they didn’t discuss prison conditions with the special court, as the PTI leader didn’t attend.
According to our sources, the prosecution is pushing for an early trial and an in-camera hearing.During the future hearing of the cypher case in jail, Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain mentioned that copies of the challan, or charge sheet, would be delivered to the accused.
At the attorneys’ request, the hearing was postponed until October 9.
A diplomatic document linked to the cypher case disappeared while in Imran’s possession.
U.S. threats to remove the party chairman from his position were allegedly included in the document, as reported by the PTI.
Following his conviction and three-year sentence in the Toshakhana graft case on August 5, 2023, Imran was transported to Attock jail.
His court remand in the cypher case became public knowledge afterwards.
Upon the orders of the IHC (Islamabad High Court), Imran was transferred from Attock district jail to Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, and the judicial remand of both PTI leaders was prolonged till October 10.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) filed formal charges against Imran and Qureshi for the cypher case on September 30 before the Special Court set up under the Official Secrets Act.
The FIA asked for a private hearing this week to consider Imran’s bail application in the cypher case, citing concerns that public scrutiny could damage diplomatic ties.
The Ministry of Law and Justice said the ex-prime minister and ex-foreign minister will be tried in prison for their roles in the cypher case the day before.
