Cipher case: IHC halts Imran Khan’s trial till Jan 11

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued on Thursday a stayorder on the in-camera trial in the cipher case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) former chairman Imran Khan till January 11, 2024, Aaj News reported.

Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb took up Imran’s petition against the in-camera trial in the cipher case. Earlier, the court had rejected PTI’s request seeking a stayorder on Imran in-camera trial in the cipher case.

In his petition, Imran challenged his de-novo trial in jail and subsequent developments, including the framing of charges and a gag order on the media.

After issuing the notices, the IHC bench had deferred the hearing of the case till December 28 (today) for further proceedings.

The PTI founder chairman 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. However, the judge dismissed his request, saying that notices would be first issued to the respondents.

The IHC also issued a notice to the federation and sought its responses to the PTI petition.

Imran and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi have been twice indicted in the case. Both have pleaded not guilty.