RAWALPINDI: The special court constituted under the Official Secrets Act on Thursday announced that next hearing in the case would be in-camera proceedings.
Earlier, the court reserved its verdict on the FIA plea for in-camera trial of former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood in the cipher at the Adiala district jail.
The two PTI leaders were indicted for a second time yesterday. The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s charge sheet alleges was never returned by Imran Khan when he was prime minister. The PTI has long held that the cipher contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran Khan as prime minister.
During today’s hearing, counsels of both PTI leaders appeared before Judge Zulqarnain. Imran’s sisters and wife Bushra Bibi were also present in the courtroom, according to local media reports.
FIA prosecutor sought a confidential trial, arguing that the proceedings should be held in-camera under section 14 of the Secrets Act as the case had been filed under the same laws.
He argued that section 14 dictates that a secret trial should be held considering the “context and circumstances”, adding that the case required the same.
In response, Qureshi’s counsel Ali Bukhari argued that they had already challenged the notification of jail trial and an in-camera hearing in the IHC. He said Khan’s lawyers came to know about the indictment through the media, at which the court said charges were framed in front of everyone.
Another lawyer for Qureshi, Barrister Taimur Malik asserted that the special court “could not ignore the trial as per the IHC’s directives. The court, had, then reserved its verdict on the FIA’s plea seeking in-camera proceedings.
