By Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will continue to be held in custody in connection with the cipher case until September 26, as decided by a special court on Wednesday.
The cipher case revolves around a missing diplomatic document reportedly in Imran Khan’s possession, which the PTI claims contained a threat from the United States to remove Imran from power.
Imran Khan had previously been serving a three-year jail term in the Toshakhana case, but it was suspended. However, he has remained in judicial remand in the cipher case, which was extended until September 13 last week.
The PTI has expressed concern about the absence of Judge Zulqarnain from the hearings, with judiciary sources citing his wife’s critical illness as the reason.
Imran’s initial 14-day judicial remand ended on Tuesday, and in response to security concerns, Judge Zulqarnain requested that the trial be conducted in Attock jail. The law ministry issued a notification allowing this change.
The Islamabad High Court reserved its decision on a petition challenging the trial’s location in Attock jail instead of Islamabad.
Today, the special court resumed proceedings in Attock jail, with tight security measures in place. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team and nine members of Imran’s legal team were present during the closed-door hearing.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, also in judicial remand, was presented before Judge Zulqarnain at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC). However, he was informed that the judge had gone to Attock jail for Imran Khan’s case hearing. Consequently, Qureshi’s judicial remand was extended until September 26.
Imran Khan’s lawyer had earlier raised questions in the Islamabad High Court about the transfer of the cypher case trial from the federal capital territory to Attock in Punjab. Despite the lower court’s decision being overturned, Imran remains detained in connection with the cypher case.
The FIA officially arrested Imran Khan in the cypher case last month, charging him under the Official Secrets Act. Over 400 pieces of social media-related evidence were reportedly found against him, and statements from 80 accused individuals allegedly involved in the attack on Jinnah House in Lahore suggested elements of conspiracy.
