The Islamabad High Court (IHC) recently halted proceedings in the much-discussed 'cypher case' until January 11, citing legal discrepancies, according to media reports.
Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb issued a brief order following Imran's petition challenging the trial. During the hearing, the Attorney General of Pakistan, Mansoor Awan, along with Additional AGP Iqbal Duggal and the FIA's prosecution team, appeared in court. PTI counsel Salman Akram Raja attended the proceedings via video link.
Justice Aurangzeb questioned the in-camera proceedings when the court had previously ordered an open trial. He noted that security matters did not fall under the court's jurisdiction and expressed concerns about conflicting statements regarding the nature of the proceedings, particularly regarding attendance by family members and the media.
Attorney General Awan clarified that only witness testimonies were being held in-camera, not the entire trial. He mentioned that 13 witnesses had testified, with two cross-examined by the defense. Awan highlighted that media access was restricted after the testimony of 13 witnesses.
In October, the FIA had presented a list of 28 witnesses in the cypher case against Imran and Qureshi, as part of the indictment. The Supreme Court had granted bail to both PTI leaders in the cypher case on December 22, citing insufficient incriminating evidence to suggest Imran had disclosed a diplomatic document to the public.
Despite the bail, their release from Adiala jail remains pending due to their involvement in other ongoing cases. The case emerged from Imran's public presentation of a paper during a rally in Islamabad on March 27, 2022, claiming it as evidence of an "international conspiracy" preceding a vote of no-confidence that led to his government's removal.
(With Agency Inputs)
ALSO READ | Imran Khan out of electoral race?
