Cipher case: ‘Open trial’ of Imran, Qureshi begins in Adiala again

ISLAMABAD. The Special Court, established under the Official Secrets Act 2023, started hearing the cipher case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supremo Imran Khan and senior party leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi again in an open court in the Adiala jail on Saturday, where the two are incarcerated.

Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain is conducting the cipher trial since registration of the case against the PTI leaders under the Official Secrets Act.

Khan and Qureshi were indicted under the charges of misusing a classified document by the special court on October 23. The federal cabinet approved on Thursday a summary to hold the jail trial of Khan and Qureshi in the cipher case after it was moved by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

The decision was taken in the light of special court judge Zulqarnain’s order to hold the trial in jail due to “serious security risks” brought to light by the Adiala jail’s superintendent.

The court also stated that the proceedings could be attended by anyone who wishes to do so, including journalists. Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, Qureshi’s daughter Mehr Bano and son Zain Qureshi were also present in the court.

However, local and international journalists, who were present outside the jail to cover the open court hearing, were not allowed inside the jail on Saturday. Khan and Qureshi’s attendance was marked after which the proceedings were adjourned till Monday, December 4.

The former prime minister claimed that powerful people behind the cipher case were being protected. “I ordered to initiate an inquiry into the matter when I was the prime minister,” said the PTI supremo during the cipher case hearing at the Adiala jail.

He said that he, along with his party leaders, were locked up inside jails like goats while Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif was brought back to Pakistan.

During the hearing, Qureshi asked if their trial was being conducted under the Official Secrets Act 1923 or 2023, adding that he never had any security concerns and had been travelling alone in his car. He said the jail administration violated the orders to produce him and Khan before the court and failed to produce their records.

“We are being tried in a bogus case. The president is also against the Official Secrets Act amendment law,” he stressed. Qureshi also requested that the president be summoned and he would tell the court whether he accepted the law or not.

The court told Qureshi that media representatives were at the jail for the hearing. “You were not produced in court due to security concerns,” said the court, adding that their [Qureshi and Khan’s] trial could not be held separately.

The court told Qureshi that his trial would be held under Sections 9 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, adding that proceedings would be held on merit.

Khan’s lawyer Intizar Hussain Panjutha, speaking to the media outside the Adiala jail, said the hearing was held in violation of the high court orders.