ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday accepted the appeals of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and former foreign minister and PTI’s Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi against their convictions in the cipher case.
The Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the short verdict after accepting the appeals of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The court has acquitted both Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi of the charges and cleared them in the cipher case. Their sentences were suspended.
Earlier, the court had reserved its verdict on the appeals of Imran Khan and Qureshi against their convictions in the high-profile cipher case.
The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) charge sheet alleges was never returned by then-prime minister Imran Khan, who long held that the document contained a threat from the US to topple his government.
The case has been a significant legal battle for the PTI leadership. A special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, had handed both Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi 10-year jail sentences each in the cipher case in January.
During today’s hearing, legal teams for both Imran Khan and Qureshi presented their arguments, seeking to overturn the convictions. The defense emphasized the lack of concrete evidence and procedural errors during the initial trial.
Earlier today, Imran Khan and Qureshi were acquitted by the district and sessions court in two cases of vandalism and violation of Section 144 during the PTI’s Azadi March.
Judicial Magistrate Ehtesham Alam delivered the verdict on the acquittal pleas of Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Ali Muhammad Khan and Murad Saeed.
PTI leaders Ali Muhammad Khan and Asad Umar appeared before the court along with their lawyers Naeem Haider Panjotha, Sardar Masroof and Amna Ali.
