Qureshi petitions the SC for bail in the Cypher case

Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a former foreign minister, petitioned the Supreme Court on Monday to grant bail in the Cypher case.

The prominent member of the PTI filed an appeal challenging a previous ruling by the Islamabad High Court that denied him bail, and he asked for the ruling to be overturned.

The petition also argued that the case was politically motivated and that the lower courts had improperly examined the case’s facts.

The petition further stated that the FIR is not compliant with the law.

Qureshi went on to say that he is unrelated to the FIR that was filed in the Cypher case. The petition also claimed that Qureshi’s position as foreign minister grants him protection under Article 248 of the Constitution.

Earlier, during a session presided over by Justice Aamer Farooq, the IHC denied Qureshi’s request for bail.

In his ruling, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq stated that the jail trial would involve an open trial rather than in-camera proceedings.

The chief judge decided that no process could be deemed invalid just because it was held in the incorrect location, and that the procedures could not be stopped unless it was clear that justice had not been served.

In addition, Justice Farooq mandated that the special court hearing the cipher case against Qureshi and Imran Khan be finished in four weeks.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Qureshi are being detained at Adaila Jail, where the cipher case against them is being tried.