Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan to face public trial inside jail premises as key case takes a dramatic turn

 In a significant development, a Pakistani special court has mandated an open trial for former Prime Minister Imran Khan inside the Adiala jail premises in Rawalpindi. The court, established to address the alleged leak of state secrets, known as the cipher case, is also trying Khan's deputy and ex-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi under the Official Secrets Act. The decision allows Khan's family members and the general public to attend the proceedings on Friday. This move comes after the trial was previously conducted in jail, but was declared illegal by the Islamabad High Court last week.

Despite the high court's order, Khan was not presented before the special court on Tuesday, with the government citing grave security concerns, including a risk to his life. Khan's attorney, Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, criticized the decision, arguing for the trial to be held in an open court with unrestricted public access. He expressed disappointment that the trial would take place within jail premises, as it would not truly allow for public attendance. The cipher case revolves around a diplomatic cable sent by a former Pakistani ambassador to the US to Islamabad.

Khan claims that the missing cipher supports his allegation that he was ousted from office last year due to a plot orchestrated by the Pakistani military, political rivals, and the US. However, both US and Pakistani authorities deny this accusation. Imran Khan, a 71-year-old former cricket star, has been entangled in political and legal battles since his ousting as Prime Minister in April 2022. He has been serving a three-year jail sentence since August for unlawfully selling state gifts while in office from 2018 to 2022. This public trial will likely be a crucial moment in Khan's legal journey as he fights to prove his claims and assert his innocence.

In another development, a court in Pakistan ordered a public trial of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on charges of revealing official secrets. The special court judge made this decision after authorities failed to physically produce Khan before the court due to security threats. The trial will be held in jail, but family members and media will be allowed to attend the hearings. Previously, the judge had ordered the government to present Khan in the court, as the trial in jail was deemed illegal by the Islamabad High Court.

However, the jail authorities submitted a report stating serious threats to Khan's life, thus preventing his physical appearance in court. Khan's lawyer rejected the decision and demanded that the trial take place in an open court setting at the Judicial Complex Islamabad. Khan was arrested in August and has been facing trial in several cases conducted inside jail. He, along with former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was indicted in the cipher case, with both pleading not guilty.

The case pertains to diplomatic communications between Washington and Islamabad, which Khan alleges was part of a US conspiracy to overthrow his government. Khan, who served as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, lost a vote of confidence in parliament in April 2022, falling short of completing his term. The public trial in prison will mark a crucial episode in Khan's legal battles as he strives to defend himself against the charges brought against him.