- Hamid Khan terms special court proceedings not a trial, rather ‘abuse of power’
- Ali Zafar says to move IHC against verdict, calling sentence to PTI leaders ‘mockery’ of justice
RAWALPINDI: The Special Court, established under Official Secrets Act, on Tuesday sentenced both former premier Imran Khan and foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to 10 years in jail in the cypher case.
The short verbal verdict was announced soon after recording the statements of both the accused under Section 342 during the hearing at Adiala Jail on Tuesday.
The cypher case centres on a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency’s charge sheet alleges was never returned by Imran. The PTI has long held that the document contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran as prime minister.
Earlier, questionnaires were prepared to record their statements as the court resumed the hearing of the cypher case.
On the other hand, the PTI had moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday morning to challenge the appointment of state defence counsel for the two accused in the cypher case, requesting it to declare the special court’s Jan 26 orders as “illegal.”
During the hearing conducted by Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, a total of 25 witnesses were presented before the court.
The prominent names among those cross-examined by the both sides lawyers include former foreign secretary Sohail Mehmood, former principal secretary to PM Azam Khan, former Interior Secretary Yusuf Naseem Khokhar, interior secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani and former ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed.
Earlier in the day, the cypher case proceedings were again disrupted as the two accused got angry and started shouting. As the situation worsened, the special court judge opted for a temporary break after which the hearing started again.
Qureshi objected to the state-appointed defence counsel during cross-examination, expressing difficulty attending court in the current situation. PTI lawyer Salman Safdar noted that the Islamabad High Court had deemed the trial invalid, yet the case persisted in this court for the third time.
‘All principles of fair trial badly violated’
Hamid Khan, the counsel for the PTI founder, termed that this was not a trial, rather abuse of power. “It seems they are in a hurry to punish Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. All principles of a fair trial violated,” said Hamid Khan.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, he expressed that it’s not clear whose orders the court was following to announce the verdict hastily. All this is a violation of laws and constitution and against the principles of justice in every way.
Describing the verdict ‘as murder of justice’, PTI’s Barrister Ali Zafar announced to challenge the verdict in Islamabad High Court.
Yesterday, Special Court Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain conducted lengthy hearing in Adiala Jail, which lasted more than thirteen hours.
The statements of 11 more witnesses in the cypher case were completed. After the cross-examination of the witnesses, questionnaires were prepared to record the statements of the accused. Former PTI chairman Imran Khan appeared in court and said, “I have come before you, note my presence. Now this fixed match is underway, what am I to do here?” After that, the former PTI chief left the court.
PTI to challenge cipher case verdict in IHC
Soon after, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced to challenge cypher case verdict in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
“We will challenge the punishment awarded to PTI founder and ex-foreign minister after receiving a detailed verdict in the cipher case,” Barrister Ali Zafar said while talking to a private TV Channel after the special court verdict.
Ali Zafar criticized the verdict and termed the sentence to PTI leaders ‘mockery’ of justice. “Jail trial in the cypher case was against Article 10-A,” he claimed. The former law minister was of view that ‘due’ process was not adopted in the case.
Earlier, the special court handed down 10 years term in jail each, to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The former premier and the former foreign minister were facing trial in cypher case in Adiala Jail from last year for ‘distorting’ the facts of the diplomatic cypher. Both the PTI leaders were accused of conspiracy to misuse the contents of the cypher fro ‘political purpose’.
PTI top brass vehemently rejects verdict
In the aftermath, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) top leadership vehemently rejected on Tuesday the verdict handed down by a special court under the Official Secrets Act, which sentenced former premier Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to 10 years in jail in the cypher case.
In response to the special court’s decision, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, a central leader of Tehreek-e-Insaf, addressed the media, urging party supporters to exhibit restraint and avoid expressing anger.
He stated that PTI would challenge the Cipher case trial in court, expressing hope that the punishment meted out to PTI founder Imran Khan would be annulled.
PTI stalwart Omer Ayub Khan took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), declaring his rejection of the verdict, citing political motives behind the decision.
In a statement, he called on all PTI members and Pakistanis to remain calm and peaceful in the aftermath of what he referred to as a decision by a “kangaroo court” against PM Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Omer Ayub Khan encouraged supporters to concentrate on the upcoming electoral process, emphasizing a high voter turnout. He urged PTI members to rally on February 8, 2024, and cast their votes for PM Imran Khan’s nominated candidates, whose names have been posted on PTI’s official website and social media channels.
Earlier in the day, the cypher case proceedings were again disrupted as both Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi got angry and started shouting.
As the situation worsened, the special court judge opted for a temporary break after which the hearing started again. Qureshi objected to the state-appointed defence counsel during cross-examination, expressing difficulty attending court in the current situation. PTI lawyer Salman Safdar noted that the Islamabad High Court had deemed the trial invalid, yet the case persisted in this court for the third time.
