Rawalpindi: The hearing of the cipher case in Official Secrets Act Special Court, against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, adjourned till October 9 Monday.
Special Court Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain conducted the hearing in Adiala Jail on October 4 2023, Wednesday, based on security reasons after clearance from the law ministry.
During today's hearing, copies of the challan could not be distributed to the accused.
It should be noted that the FIA has already submitted the challan of the cipher case in the Official Secrets Act court.
The court allowed 12 lawyers Barrister Salman Safdar, Sardar Latif Khosa, Raja Yasir, Naeem Haider Panjotha, Barrister Umair Khan Niazi, Chaudhry Khalid Yusuf, Niazullah Khan Niazi, Rai Muhammad Ali, Lal Umar Bodhala, Jawad Asghar, and Ali Ijaz. Buttar, to enter Adiala Jail to attend the hearing. Qureshi's lawyers Barrister Taimur Malik, Ali Bukhari, son Zain Qureshi and daughter Meher Bano were also present during the proceedings.
Meanwhile, Federal Government Special Prosecutor Zulfikar Abbasi also reached Adiala Jail.
Imran Khan’s lawyers during hearing, requested the court to put hold on trial as a bail petition is currently being heard in Islamabad High Court. They told Judge Zulqurnain that a hearing has been reserved on jail trial and in-camera proceedings.
It is pertinent to mention that the case filed under the Official Secrets Act, accuses the former prime minister and former foreign minister of revealing and misusing the contents of a classified cipher sent by the Pakistani embassy in Washington.
