By In a significant development in the cipher case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the special court presided over by Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, recorded the statements of three prosecution witnesses on Tuesday.
The proceedings took place at Adiala Jail, where the witnesses presented their accounts. The court subsequently adjourned the trial until November 10.
The legal teams for PTI Chief Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Qureshi, including Barrister Salman Safdar, Barrister Taimur Malik, Umair Niazi, Barrister Tamur, Barrister Ghohar Ali Khan, and others, along with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor Shah Khawar, Rizwan Abbasi, and Zulfiqar Abbas, were present during the hearing.
During a previous hearing, the FIA had brought forth ten witnesses, among them Imran Sajjad, Aqeel Haider, Shamoon Qaiser, M Afzal, Nader Khan, Iqra Ashraf, Farrukh Abbas, Haseeb bin Aziz, Investigation Officer (IO) Shabbir, and Khushnood.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Barrister Safdar revealed that the three witnesses called by the prosecution were officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, although the Ministry of Interior filed the complaint in the cipher case.
He emphasized that the alleged wrongdoers were not the aggrieved party in this matter.
The legal team rigorously cross-examined these witnesses. There appears to be pressure on the prosecution and witnesses to expedite the trial. Barrister Safdar pointed out that if the former foreign minister or prime minister were involved in any wrongdoing, it should have been the Ministry of Foreign Affairs filing the complaint.
In the upcoming hearing, the court has summoned three additional witnesses to provide their statements. Before their testimonies, PTI’s legal team met with Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Notably, Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and his sisters also visited him in jail.
As the proceedings continue, public interest in the cipher case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi is intensifying.
The testimonies recorded in court and the legal maneuvers surrounding the case have kept the nation on edge. With the trial set to resume on November 10, all eyes are on the developments in this high-profile case.
