Former Pakistan PM Held in Jail Meets Colleague in High-Security Courtroom Amid Cipher Case Trial

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan met with his senior party colleague and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Adiala jail during a hearing for the cipher case, according to media reports. Khan has been held in the high-security jail since September 26th, following an order from the Islamabad High Court. The meeting between the two jailed leaders was the first and took place under unusual circumstances, with a net separating them in the courtroom.

Khan and Qureshi's remand in the cipher case has been extended until October 10th. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed a charge sheet against them for allegedly violating the Official Secrets Act. The prosecution has requested an in-camera hearing and an early trial. An in-camera hearing was also requested for Khan's bail plea, but the Ministry of Law and Justice has issued a notification for a jail trial. The PTI party claims that the document in question contained a threat from the United States to remove Khan from his position. The trial is set to continue on October 9th.