Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Fate Hangs in the Balance as Court Reserves Judgement on Cipher Case Hearing in Attock Prison
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's petition challenging the hearing of the cipher case inside Attock prison has been reserved for judgement by the Islamabad High Court. The case involves the violation of the Official Secrets Act.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's petition challenging the hearing of the cipher case inside Attock prison in Punjab province was reserved for judgement by a Pakistani court on Tuesday. The leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has been in jail since August 5, following his conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case. Although his sentence was suspended by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on August 29, he remains in Attock prison in relation to the cipher case. Meanwhile, a special court has extended his remand until September 13. The cipher case against Khan involves the violation of the Official Secrets Act, following the leakage of a confidential diplomatic cable from Pakistan's embassy in Washington.
During the hearing at the Islamabad High Court, Khan's counsel, Sher Afzal Marwat, alleged that there was malicious intent behind the change of venue for the cipher case hearing. Marwat stated that the purpose of this change was to keep the PTI chairman in jail, and he expressed frustration over not being notified about the reasons behind the notification. Marwat argued that according to the law, any trial of a civilian registered under the Official Secrets Act should take place in a special court, and therefore, the rule should be applicable in Khan's case as well.
He further questioned the legality of transferring the trial from Islamabad to Punjab, emphasizing that such a transfer could only be done by the Supreme Court, not by the chief commissioner or home secretary. Marwat asserted that if the trial venue was to be changed, a petition should have been filed with the trial judge. In response, Additional Attorney General Mansoor Iqbal Dogal stated that the notification related to the jail trial was intended for one time only, and that this exception rendered Khan's petition ineffective. Following arguments from both parties, the Islamabad High Court reserved its decision on the petition.