RAWALPINDI: PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi have been indicted in the cypher case.
However, both the suspects pleaded not guilty. The special court of the Official Secrets Act has issued a notice to summon the government lawyers for October 27.
On the previous hearing, copies of the investigation report were handed over to the suspects. Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain resumed hearing the cipher case in Adiala Jail under the Official Secrets Act on Monday.
The PTI lawyers team is being led by Naeem Haider Panjotha, while the FIA team is also present in the court with the complete case record.
Speaking to the media outside the jail before the hearing, FIA Special Prosecutor Shah Khawar said the suspects have to be indicted today, while the defence side is expected to file an application under Section 265D of the CrPC.
If the suspects plead not guilty, 28 witnesses will be summoned in sets, Shah Khawar added.
On Oct 17, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi could not be indicted in the cypher case. The copies of the investigation report were shared with the suspects, however.
The special court of the Official Secrets Act re-distributed the copies of the investigation report among the suspects over the objection of their lawyers.
After a hearing in Adiala Jail, Special Prosecutor Shah Khawar told the media that the proceedings were postponed till October 23.
PTI lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat told the media that they were not given the copies of the report at the last hearing because of which the indictment has been postponed. He said they received the copies of the report, so the charges will be framed at the next hearing.
Marwat also told the media that the PTI chief and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood were once again brought to the court in a cage. He claimed that Judge Zulqernain said the next hearing will take place in a bigger room.
The lawyer informed the media that statements of 22 people who held press conferences over the May 9 events were recorded, while statements of PTI members were also recorded under Section 164 of CrPC.
He also feared that Imran Khan’s case will be sent to the military court based on these statements, the lawyer claimed.
PTI lawyer Salman Safdar claimed the high court pronounced a verdict on the jail trial, but they did not get the copies. He hoped a decision will be announced on the remaining applications by Monday.
He said Imran Khan was informed about the legal matters, and he asked to challenge the decision on the jail trial. The high court verdict will be challenged by Salman Akram Raja.
