The Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, Aamer Farooq, has issued an official order regarding Imran Khan’s plea in the cypher case.
In this order, it was noted that Imran Khan’s lawyer argued that Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) did not apply to his client, and he was exempt under Article 248 of the Constitution. The Islamabad High Court has also sent a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Imran Khan’s cypher case, asking for a response by October 16.
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The court has combined the former prime minister’s requests to dismiss the charges against him and to stay the trial. The FIA has accused Imran of unlawfully possessing a diplomatic cypher in violation of the OSA, 1923, and has also implicated former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in facilitating Imran. The FIA has requested the special court judge to conduct the trial of both PTI leaders.
Imran Khan had displayed the alleged diplomatic cypher at a public rally on March 27, 2022, claiming it as evidence of an “international conspiracy” to topple his government. The FIA initiated the ‘cypher-gate’ investigation on July 19, 2023. Qureshi was arrested on August 19, and Imran Khan was arrested on August 29. The special court rejected their post-arrest bail applications, citing sufficient incriminating evidence.
The special court commenced the proceedings on October 9 and set October 17 for the indictment of Imran and Qureshi. The accused refused to accept the charge-sheet copies and said they would challenge the decision in the IHC. On October 11, Imran Khan challenged the special court’s indictment order in the cypher case in the IHC, seeking to declare the special court’s October 9 order null and void.
