Open Court
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has opted to hold the forthcoming hearing on the cypher case in open court.
The Chief Justice of the IHC delivered a written judgment in response to a request for an in-camera hearing in this case. PTI Chief Imran Khan requested the court to hold in-camera hearing in the cypher case.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq instructed the prosecution to submit a separate request if they wished to have an in-camera hearing for the case.
During the proceedings, the special prosecutor, Shah Khawar, argued that there are confidential documents that should not be disclosed to the public.
Khan’s attorney, Barrister Salman Safdar, suggested that the court could exclude the public from the proceedings if it deemed it necessary.
The IHC also ordered the transfer of Khan from Attock to Adiala Jail after his lawyers contested his detention at Attock prison.
“The petitioner is to be relocated from Central Jail Attock to Central Jail Adiala, Rawalpindi, and all Office Orders/Notifications related to transferring the petitioner to Central Jail Attock are invalidated. He shall have access to all the privileges granted to a higher-class prisoner,” the court order stated.
The court acknowledged the overcrowding issue in all prisons in Pakistan. The IHC emphasized that it should not be used as a justification for keeping another prisoner.
“Considering the petitioner’s status as an undertrial prisoner, he should be confined to Central Jail Adiala, Rawalpindi. There is no valid reason for his current placement,” the court concluded.
Earlier, PTI Chairman conveyed to the court that he no longer desired a transfer to Adiala jail because he had adjusted himself in Attock jail.
The former premier shared this with a special court convened at Attock Jail on Tuesday in connection with the cipher case hearing.
Imran Khan additionally indicated his intention to instruct his legal representatives to withdraw the transfer request.
On Monday, the Islamabad High Court gave order to transfer Imran Khan to Adiala Jail from Attock Jail. The court gave the order on the petition of Imran Khan. Former PM filed the petition through his lawyer seeking transfer to Adiala Jail.
Moreover, a special court extended the judicial remand of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case until October 10.
The special court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain extended remand during the proceedings of the case held at Attock District Jail.
The cipher case pertains to a missing classified state document referred to as the cipher case. The court instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to promptly submit a challan (formal charge) for the case.
This hearing took place at Attock Jail, following approval by the Law Ministry, due to security issues. It’s important to note that Imran Khan had been incarcerated on August 5 after being convicted in the Toshakhana case.
Islamabad High Court suspended his sentence in Toshakhana case, but authorities arrested him in the cipher case.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the media and PTI supporters kept on waiting for the news about the transfer of Imran Khan to Adiala Jail.
The cipher case, registered on August 15 under the Official Secrets Act, originated from a complaint by the Interior Secretary.
