The hearings will continue at Adiala jail in an open court setting, according to a statement made on Tuesday by the special court judge overseeing the trial of former premier Imran Khan in the cipher case.
The court’s order for the Adiala jail authorities to present the former premier before the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) in Islamabad was not followed because of “serious security risks.”
The Cipher case trial between Imran and his foreign minister at the time, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, was previously ordered by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to take place before the FJC. The PTI chairman’s trial, which was held in jail up until this point, was deemed void by the IHC.
The Cypher Case concerns a document that Imran, the prime minister at the time, brandished during a public
rally in March last year, terming it evidence of a foreign conspiracy behind the no-confidence motion he faced at that time. The motion was carried a few weeks later and Imran’s government ended.
During the hearing today, the jail authorities presented their report to Judge Zulqarnain, who meticulously reviewed its contents. Intelligence agencies and the police, as indicated in the report, raised concerns about life threats faced by the PTI chairman, emphasizing the gravity of the security risks.
Following a brief deliberation, the special court issued its order, endorsing the continuation of the trial within Adiala jail but stipulating that it would transpire in an open court. Citing reservations expressed by the jail authorities and security agencies about the FJC, the court declared that the subsequent hearing, scheduled for December 1 (Friday), would convene at Adiala Jail as an open court proceeding.
Anticipating potential security challenges, a meeting involving the police, administration, and relevant departments was convened on Monday to devise a comprehensive security plan for Imran’s appearance.
The special court also said that attendees, including journalists, would be permitted to witness the proceedings. Additionally, it extended permission for five family members of each accused to be present inside the courtroom.
The trial, initially underway at Adiala Jail, had seen the testimonies of four witnesses, with the fifth undergoing cross-examination. However, following the IHC decision, the special court is now poised to initiate a fresh trial, necessitating the prosecution to submit a new application for the resumption of the trial within the jail premises.
In the recent proceedings, held at the FJC, Barrister Salman Safdar represented Imran, while Advocate Ali Bukhari stood as Qureshi’s legal counsel. Prosecutors Shah Khawar and Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also appeared before the court.
