ISLAMABAD: The Official Secrets Act special court in Islamabad Tuesday ruled that trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and party’s vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be conducted in jail after the jail authorities submitted their report detailing threats to the life of former prime minister.
In the morning, the court had reserved its verdict on whether PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi would be produced in court or not for trial after jail officials excused themselves from bringing them to the court in Judicial Complex here.
Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain of the Official Secrets Act special court heard the case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Imran Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, told the court that two separate cases were being heard by the court today, including the cipher case and three bail applications. He hoped his client would be produced in the court, but, he said, it proved otherwise. He further observed the case was being heard in haste.
A jail official presented a report to the court regarding threats associated with Imran Khan’s production in court. The judge remarked that, according to jail officials, the suspect could not be produced in the court.
The letter stated that according to reports from sensitive institutions and the police, the life of the suspect is in danger. The suspect cannot be produced in court, it added.
In response, Imran’s lawyer argued that the decisions of the special court and high court were being violated. “What is the interest of the superintendent in keeping the PTI chairman in jail?” advocate Salman Safdar posed a question.
Qureshi’s lawyer Ali Bukhari asked why his client had not been produced when no charges have been framed or an investigation report has been shared with him. He then asked the judge to get his own order implemented.
Judge Zulqarnain then remarked that the media and the public should have access to the court. The judge then reserved the verdict just to announce that trial of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood would be held in jail.
