F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has halted cipher trial of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan being conducted by a special court at Adiala Jail under Official Secrets Act.
Issuing a stay order until January 11, the high court on Thursday adjourned the hearing. The order was passed by IHC’s Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb on Imran Khan’s petition challenging the cipher trial and subsequent developments, including the framing of charges and a gag order on the media.
The Special Court (Official Secrets Act) had begun the cipher trial afresh last week at the Adiala district jail after Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi were indicted for a second time in the case on Dec 13.
Earlier on Thursday, the Islamabad High Court turned down a plea submitted by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking a stay order in Imran Khan’s in-camera trial in the cipher case.
Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb took up Imran Khan’s petition against the in-camera proceedings in the cipher case on Thursday.
The PTI founder through the petition challenged his trial in jail and subsequent developments, including the framing of charges and a gag order on the media.
Imran Khan has challenged his indictment in the cipher case and the entire proceedings by the special court established under the Official Secrets Act.
Meanwhile, during the hearing today, PTI counsel Salman Usman Gul sought an immediate stay order on the cipher trial. The judge, however, rejected his request, saying that notices would be first issued to the respondents.
The IHC also issued notices to the federation and the FIA, seeking responses to the PTI petition.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi have been twice indicted in the case. Both had pleaded not guilty.
Courtesy: (24News)
