In the high-profile cypher case, the special court that was constituted under the Official Secrets Act handed down a sentence of ten years in prison to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday.
The verdict was pronounced by the court, which was presided over by Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain, during the hearing that took place within the premises of the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi during the proceedings.
In the final moments before Imran was sentenced, the court inquired about the location of the cypher from the former world leader.
“I have mentioned in my statement that the security of the Prime Minister’s House was not my responsibility,” the speaker said. His statement was, “I do not possess the cypher.”
Furthermore, the judge made copies of the statement and the questionnaire that was required under Section 342 available to the two leaders of the PTI. Additionally, the judge requested that both accused individuals record their responses in the questionnaire.
The verdict was pronounced by the court after Imran and Qureshi had successfully recorded their statements in accordance with Section 342.
Gauhar blasts the decision.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stated that the “reality of the bogus cases” could not be disputed, even if Imran and Qureshi were found guilty and gave death sentences.
In a statement that expressed optimism on the party’s next line of action, he stated that they will petition the high court to overturn the sentence, and that the court would then provide a “free and fair” judgment in response to the “abrupt” verdict that was handed down today.
Gohar advised supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to maintain their composure and peace, adding that the party is confident that the Supreme Court and the High Court will grant them relief.
“You do not have to be violent; don’t even throw a pebble; all the powers are being used to divert our attention from the elections that will take place on February 8; however, you should remain focused on the polls, and the power of our votes will perform justice for Imran and Qureshi,” stated the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
In addition, he encouraged his supporters to avoid falling for any “pre-planned” act that will take place on May 9.
In response to a journalist’s inquiry on Imran’s reaction to the ruling, Gohar stated that the founder of the PTI was neither irritated nor angry because he was aware that the case and its trial were a “fixed match.”
In the course of the hearings in the courtroom, the attorneys for the parties were allegedly led to a small room where “weapons were pointed at them,” according to the attorney for the PTI, Hamid Khan.
He went on to say that this is the most egregious instance of denying justice in the annals of human history.
“In a sham trial”
As a response to the verdict handed down by the special court, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf stated that “sham trials that have their future written in dustbin”
A “complete disgusting mockery of law” was the phrase that the party used to describe the ruling, and they warned that “revenge” will be taken by the people through their vote on February 8.
Sardar Latif Khosa, a senior lawyer for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has declared that the “fake cypher case” will not last for a long time. He also added that the public should not give up hope and that everyone should vote on February 8.
Khosa was quoted as saying in a tweet, “Imran Khan will be out soon, and the best revenge for cruelty is to vote.”
Additionally, he stated that the nation possesses the authority to release Imran from prison and bring him immediately to the residence of the Prime Minister.
Imran is going to contest the cypher trial.
In the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a challenge against the detention proceedings and the appointment of state defense lawyers.
On Tuesday, a plea was submitted to the International Humanitarian Court (IHC) on behalf of the former Prime Minister. The appeal contended that the ruling issued by the special court on January 26 to appoint state counsels against Imran and Qureshi should be overturned.
A request has been made by the Chairman of the PTI, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, to the Chief Justice of the IHC to schedule the hearing for an early hearing.
During an interview with the media, the party counsel Hamid Khan stated that any further processes against the PTI leaders are unlawful because the International Humanitarian Court (IHC) has declared the first prison trial to be improper.
For the cypher
This case was started as a result of Imran’s public display of a paper during a rally in Islamabad on March 27, 2022. He claimed that the paper was evidence of a “international conspiracy” before a vote of no confidence led to the removal of his administration.
Following the announcement by the previous coalition government that they would be conducting a formal investigation against Imran and his close allies for breaking the OSA, the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) began its investigation into the so-called “cypher-gate” on July 19, 2023.
Because of his conviction in the Toshakhana case, which was handed down by a local court in Islamabad, Imran was taken into custody on August 5. On August 29, he was also taken into custody in connection with the cypher case.
According to the challan papers, Imran and Qureshi, who had previously served as the minister of foreign affairs, were both charged with violating sections 5 and 9 of the OSA. In accordance with these regulations, the potential of the death penalty or life imprisonment is included.
Earlier, the proceedings of the cypher trial had begun inside the Adiala jail; however, a division bench of the IHC later declared all of those proceedings to be invalid and ordered a new trial to take place in open court.
