On Imran Khan’s petition for post-arrest release in the cypher case, the Islamabad High Court on Monday sent a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The court issued notifications during last week’s hearing of Khan’s bail plea, which Khan filed in an effort to overturn the special court’s ruling in the relevant case. The PTI chairman submitted the petition on Saturday, and today is the scheduled hearing date.

The special court — established under the Official Secrets Act — had rejected the post-arrest bail pleas of Khan and his party’s Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the case of the missing cipher.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued notices in response to the plea filed by lawyer Salman Safdar on behalf of the PTI chief.

The PTI chief’s legal team repeatedly urged for an early hearing of the case, following which the IHC chief justice emphasised that there is a proper procedure in place, and the case will be decided accordingly.

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The PTI chief’s petition has prompted the FIA to provide an answer.

In the cypher case, Khan and Qureshi are being held in custody until September 26.

The PTI chairman and the deputy chairman of his party were both charged by the FIA last month under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly misplacing and misusing the secret material for their own political gain.

Both leaders were subsequently detained in connection with the case investigation, and a special court was constituted in accordance with the Official Secrets Act to try the accused.