IHC rejects Imran’s bail plea in cypher case

Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a former prime minister, had his bail request in the Cipher case denied by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday.

Chief Justice IHC Aamer Farooq made the decision he had previously reserved regarding Imran’s bail application public today.

Additionally, a petition to quash the case was denied by the court. Imran is being held in Adiala Jail for the Cypher case on judicial remand.

IHC denied Imran’s motion yesterday to halt the trial in the cypher matter, which is being handled by a special court established under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and postponed making a decision regarding his bail request.

Imran filed a number of petitions, which the IHC heard from at least three distinct benches.

Salman Safdar, Imran’s attorney, contended that although they received copies of the challan on October 17, Imran was indicted by the court on October 23 without being given a seven-day notice. He continued by saying that since the cypher copy was not included in the challan, they were unaware of the charges.

The PTI president’s request to halt the trial was denied by the chief judge in his decision. On the question of the accused’s indictment, however, the court ruled that the petitioner was entitled to an open trial.

Separately, the PTI chairman was met for around an hour at the Adiala Jail by lawyers Sardar Latif Khosa, Umair Niazi, Gohar Ali, Naeem Haider Panjotha, and others to discuss the legal matters related to his cases.

Official witnesses’ accusations against Qureshi and Imran will be documented. The case will be heard at Adiala Jail by Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.

The government had called 28 witnesses, according to the court. The witnesses will be presented by a team from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The lawyers are going to cross-examine them after the statements.

Outside the jail, strict security measures have also been put in place.