The cipher trial proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi resumed at the Adiala jail on Saturday as jail authorities prevented most media workers from attending the “open court” hearing. The cipher case pertains to 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. The former premier and his aide Qureshi, who is also behind bars, were indicted in the case on Oct 23. Both have pleaded not guilty. The trial was being held at Adiala Jail and four witnesses had already recorded their statements, with the fifth being cross-examined when an Islamabad High Court division bench had termed the government’s notification for jail trial “erroneous” and scrapped the entire proceedings. As a result of the judgement, the special court was to start a fresh trial now.

Earlier this week, Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain had ruled that the trial proceedings would continue at the Adiala jail but in an open court. As per the special court’s orders, those who wished to attend the proceedings were not to be stopped from doing so and journalists were also to be permitted to witness the trial. The judge had also assured the PTI lawyers of the same during yesterday’s hearing. O Saturday, however, jail authorities prevented media workers from entering the jail, with a huge number of local and international journalists outside the jail when the hearing began. At around 10:15am, only two media workers were allowed to enter the jail but it remains unclear if they were able to attend the hearing.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)