ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Monday to address his jail trial in the cipher case at the special court.
This cipher case revolves around a missing diplomatic document from Imran’s possession, which the PTI claims contained a threat from the United States to remove Khan from office.
Imran Khan received a three-year prison sentence in the Toshakhana graft case on August 5, 2023. Although the IHC initially suspended his sentence, Khan remained in jail due to his judicial remand in the cipher case.
On September 25, the IHC granted Imran’s request to transfer him from Attock district jail to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
On September 30, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) filed a charge sheet in the Special Court, accusing former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case under the Official Secrets Act.
Imran Khan submitted various petitions to the IHC, including one to halt his jail trial in the cipher case, another to suspend the Toshakhana verdict, and a third against his indictment in the cipher case, which is scheduled for October 17.
Today, the IHC rejected the plea to hold the cipher case trial in Adiala Jail and instructed Imran to approach the special court for the same.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced the verdict today, stating that the jail trial was deemed “in favor” of the former prime minister due to security concerns. The verdict also noted that Imran had expressed security reservations multiple times and suggested that if he has concerns about the jail trial, he should approach the trial court.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
