Ten witnesses were present at the Tuesday hearing in RAWALPINDI, but the special court established to try charges relating to the Official Secrets Act postponed the hearing until November 7.
The witnesses appeared in court to testify in the cypher case brought against Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
In order to ‘protect’ former prime minister Imran Khan, the cypher case was heard in Adiala jail before Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi and PTI leadership members Imran and Qureshi appeared in court for the hearing.
When it came time to take witness statements, Judge Abul Hasnat questioned the FIA prosecutor on the proper order to follow. The FIA presented eleven government witnesses, including Imran Sajjad, Aqeel Haider, Shamoon Qaiser, M Afzal, Nader Khan, Iqra Ashraf, Farrukh Abbas, Haseeb bin Aziz, IO Shabbir, and Khushnood.
After taking notice of their presence, the court adjourned the session and rescheduled the witness appearance for November 7.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) denied the PTI chief executive’s requests for post-arrest bail and the rejection of the initial information report (FIR) in the cypher case last week.
The court ruled that notwithstanding his status as a former prime minister, the PTI chairman was not immune from prosecution under Section 5(1)(a) (wrongful communication, etc. of information) of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
It further decided that the PTI head, in his capacity as the prime minister, was also not permitted to declassify the diplomatic cipher.
According to the prosecution, the PTI chairman had custody of the cypher, and the court took note of this fact. The statement went on to say that bail could not be given to Imran because of the “serious charges” he faces.
The FIA sent in its indictment to a secret court established under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, on September 30.
The complaint stated that Imran was in possession of a diplomatic cipher in violation of the Official Secrets Act. The CIA also mentioned Imran’s rally address on March 27, 2022 in Islamabad, and accused PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi of helping Imran.
At the event, Imran produced a piece of paper from his pocket, which he claimed was the diplomatic cipher, and held it out as proof of a “international conspiracy” to overthrow his government.
