Supreme Court grants bail to Imran Khan, Qureshi in cipher case
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in cipher case.
The apex court asked both the leaders to submit surety bonds worth rupees one million each.
Earlier, a special court established under the Official Secrets Act had announced that cipher case trial proceedings against former prime minister and founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be held in-camera in Adiala Jail.
Special court Judge Abul Hasnaat Zulqarnain announced the reserved verdict after listening to the arguments. Statements of the witnesses summoned by the court could not be recorded. Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi said as per Official Secrets Act Section 14 proceedings of the cipher case should be held in-camera.
He said circumstances and events warranted in-camera proceedings of the case. Abbasi said if cipher was secret document then the case proceedings should also be held secretly. Charges had been framed and the witnesses had to be testified, Abbasi said and added that recording fo the statements should also be kept in-camera.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s counsel Ali Bukhari said they had challenged jail trial of his client and the court ordered to hold an open trial of Qureshi. He said he came to know through media that the court had indicted his client.
Judge Abul Hasnaat said the charges were framed in front of all and where Bukhari had been when the indictment was being made. Later, the court while accepting prosecutor’s request, ordered in-camera proceedings of the cipher case.
A day earlier, the court had framed charges against former PTI chairman and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The trial will be begin from today. Statement of the witnesses will be recorded.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had requested the court to hold proceedings of the cipher case in-camera. The notices had been issued to ex-PTI chairman and Qureshi’s lawyers for today (Thursday).