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A special court on Thursday rejected bail applications of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and the party’s vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case.
Special court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain heard the bail applications and reserved the verdict after PTI’s counsels completed their arguments.
Later, the judge announced the reserved verdict, rejecting the post-arrest bail pleas of the PTI leaders.
Earlier today, the same court established under the Official Secrets Act approved PTI leader Asad Umar’s bail in the case related to US cipher after a prosecutor told the judge that his arrest was not required at this stage.
Judge Zulqarnain approved the PTI leader’s bail against the surety bond of Rs50,000 and also noted that Umar expressed willingness to join the cipher probe but the prosecution did not investigate him in the case.
“If Asad Umar’s arrest is required, the FIA [Federal Investigation Agency] will proceed according to law,” the judge ordered.
He also directed the FIA to inform the PTI leader in advance before arresting him in the case.
Last month, the FIA booked PTI chief Khan and the party’s vice chairman Qureshi under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly misplacing and misusing classified document for vested political interests.
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“Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in the secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” read first information report (FIR) registered against the PTI leaders.
Subsequently, both leaders were arrested in connection with the investigation into the case and a special court was established under the Official Secrets Act to try the accused.
A day earlier, the special court extended Imran and Qureshi’s judicial remand till September 26 in the cipher case.
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