Islamabad (Web Desk): The federal cabinet on Thursday approved the summary to conduct trial of cipher case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and party's vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in jail.
According to sources, the summary was approved via circulation by the cabinet after it was moved by the Ministry of Law and Justice. The decision was taken in light of special court judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain’s order to hold the trial in jail citing security concerns.
Earlier, the special court had ruled that the trial in the cipher case would be conducted in Adiala jail, adding that the court proceedings can be attended by anyone who wishes to do so including the journalists.
It is pertinent to mention that the Islamabad High Court had nullified the August 29 notification for a jail trial.
In August of this year, Khan and Qureshi were booked under the Official Secrets Act 1923 in the cipher case after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) invoked Section 5 of the said law.
Former premier Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, both are in Adiala jail, were indicted in the case on Oct 23. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The cipher was about former Pakistan ambassador to the US Majeed's meeting with Lu.
The former prime minister, claiming that he was reading contents from the cipher, said that "all will be forgiven for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power".
Later, after his removal, then-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif’ cabinet gave the green signal to initiate action against the former prime minister and handed over the case to the FIA.
