Case against Imran, Qureshi under Official Secrets Act: IHC stresses need for caution as offence entails death penalty, life term

Court issued detailed decision, rejecting bail of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case

By Awais Yousafzai
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November 19, 2023
PTI Chairman Imran Khan and vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi. — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has observed that the sections applied to the cipher case against Imran Khan involve death and life-term penalties, and the case against co-accused Shah Mehmood Qureshi will also be seen in the same context.

The court issued a detailed decision on Saturday, rejecting the bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case.

IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq issued the detailed 10-page judgment, saying that the accused of abetment, conspiracy or aiding and abetting of crime would be treated as the main accused.

The court decision said that bail was not a deterrent to punishment; courts were cautious in granting bail to those accused against whom sections involving death and life-term penalties had been slapped, and bail could not be granted in such cases unless there was a reasonable cause.

In the judgment, it was said that the court rejected the bail and directed that the trial should be completed in four weeks.