Cipher case related to Imran Khan-Qureshi, indictment adjourned till October 23

A special court in Pakistan on Tuesday adjourned till October 23 the trial of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his close aide Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the Cipher case for alleged violation of the country’s secrets laws. The case pertains to a secret diplomatic document which was used by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Khan to criticize his opponents for allegedly ousting him from power in April last year. The document reportedly went missing. Khan’s party alleges that the document contained a threat from the US to remove Khan from his post.

The special court constituted by the government held the in-camera hearing at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail after the Islamabad High Court rejected Khan’s plea against his trial in jail. Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain adjourned the hearing to October 23 with the observation that Khan and former foreign minister Qureshi would be convicted on that day. Barristers Salman Safdar and Khalid Yousuf Choudhary were present as lawyers for 71-year-old Khan, Dawn newspaper reported.

Qureshi’s wife and daughter also reached the court. However, it has not been confirmed whether he was allowed to attend the hearing or not. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) special prosecutor Shah Khawar, Khan, Qureshi and their legal teams were all present during the hearing. According to Geo News report, Khawar told journalists that the impeachment proceedings will take place next Monday (October 23).