ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday told the Islamabad High Court that an open hearing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s bail plea in the cipher case could pose a risk of deteriorating ties with other countries.
The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document that reportedly went missing from ex-prime minister Imran Khan’s possession. The PTI alleges that it contained a threat from the US to oust Imran Khan from office.
Following the suspension of the PTI chief’s three-year jail term in the Toshakhana case, it had emerged that he had been on judicial remand in the cipher case.
The post-arrest bail pleas of Imran Khan and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi were rejected by the special court last month, following which the former prime minister approached the IHC seeking the same.
On 26 September, both leaders’ judicial remand was extended till 10 October, and as per the IHC’s orders, the PTI chairman was shifted to Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail from the Attock jail.
Last week, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq passed an order declaring that Imran Khan’s bail application would be heard in an open court.
Meanwhile, the FIA submitted a charge sheet in the Special Court established under the Official Secrets Act, declaring Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi the principal accused in the cipher case.
A day ago, the FIA filed a petition in the IHC requesting in-camera proceedings of the PTI chairman’s bail plea in the case. The police have also ramped up security in the vicinity of the Adiala jail by stationing elite commandos and setting up additional security pickets.
Today, Justice Farooq took up the FIA’s plea. Barrister Salman Safdar appeared as Imran Khan’s lawyer while special prosecutor Shah Khawar represented FIA.
During the hearing, the prosecutor said that they also have to present statements regarding other nations before the court. By bringing such statements before an open court, there is a risk of deteriorating ties with other nations.
Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dogal also presented the code of conduct pertaining to diplomatic state documents before the court.
Meanwhile, Safdar pointed out that the FIA’s request, which was meant to prevent issues from being made public, contradicted its stance that the PTI chairman had already made the cipher public.
Subsequently, the court reserved its verdict on the FIA’s plea seeking in-camera proceedings of Imran Khan’s bail plea.
Court Overturns Trial Courts’ Ruling on Imran Khan’s Bail in Nine Cases
Separately, a two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court accepted a set of petitions today filed by the PTI against trial courts’ rulings to dismiss Imran Khan’s bail in 9 cases.
In September, local courts of Islamabad had rejected 9 petitions of the PTI chairman seeking bail in first information reports (FIRs) lodged against him over violent protests.
The Anti-Terrorism Court of Islamabad dismissed three bail petitions, while Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Sohail rejected 6 petitions seeking pre-arrest bail for Imran Khan as the latter was absent during the hearing due to his detention after his conviction in the Toshakhana case.
The PTI chief was seeking bail from the ATC judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain in cases lodged against him in Barakahu and Khanna Police Stations.
The ADSJ heard the bail petitions of Imran Khan in FIRs lodged against him with Karachi Company, Kohsar, Tarnol, Ramna, and Secretariat police stations.
Earlier, the PTI had approached the high court seeking to overturn the trial court’s rulings.
Announcing the reserved verdict today, an IHC bench comprising Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Justice Farooq set aside the trial court’s rulings.
