The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved its verdict on PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s bail petition regarding the cipher case.
Imran Khan was previously sentenced to three years in prison in the Toshakhana graft case on August 5, 2023, but the IHC later suspended his sentence. However, he remained in custody due to his judicial remand in the cipher case.
On September 25, the IHC approved Imran’s request to be transferred to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi from Attock district jail. On September 30, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted a charge sheet in the Special Court under the Official Secrets Act, naming Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as principal accused in the cipher case.
Imran has filed multiple petitions in the IHC, including requests to halt his jail trial, obtain bail in the cipher case, suspend the Toshakhana verdict, and challenge his indictment in the cipher case, which is scheduled for October 17.
The cipher case revolves around a diplomatic document that went missing from Imran’s possession, with the PTI claiming it contained a threat from the United States to remove him from office.
Today, the IHC resumed hearing Imran Khan’s bail plea in the cipher case, during which Special Prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi presented his arguments.
Abbasi explained that there are two categories of cases under the Official Secrets Act, with different levels of punishment. Imran was charged under the non-bailable category.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq inquired about the communication of information in the cipher. Abbasi clarified that certain ciphers cannot be shared due to their top-secret nature, arguing that the petitioner’s lawyer provided an incorrect interpretation of Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act, which deals with “wrongful communication of information.”
Abbasi asserted that Imran Khan disclosed information from the cipher to the public without authorization, emphasizing the seriousness of the case.
Justice Farooq asked about the procedures and chain for sending and receiving a cipher, to which Abbasi mentioned that these details were in the statements.
Imran Khan was directed to approach the special court for the cipher case trial in Adiala Jail. The IHC’s verdict stated that the jail trial was in favor of the former premier, considering security-related concerns and no ill will on the matter of the jail trial. It acknowledged Imran’s security reservations and advised him to address them in the trial court.