Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has contested the special court's October 17 indictment order for the cypher case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
He, along with PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, is facing trial in this case. Imran Khan's legal representative, Sher Afzal Marwat, has requested the court to invalidate the special court's order issued on October 9.
In his plea, the former Prime Minister argues that the special court instructed him to obtain copies of the case but that he has not done so. He asserts that the special court is proceeding with the indictment process without waiting for the IHC's ruling on his challenge to the confidential proceedings of the cypher case.
Two days ago, a special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, officially initiated the trial for the cypher case involving Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, with the indictment date set for October 17. Special Court Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain ordered the distribution of the charge-sheet copies to the accused, rejecting the defense's request to delay the process until the Islamabad High Court's decision regarding the in-prison trial.
However, both Imran Khan and Qureshi refused to accept the charge-sheet copies or sign the relevant documents. Their legal representatives raised concerns that the legal procedures and regulations were not being followed and indicated their intent to challenge the decision in the IHC.
The cypher case revolves around a diplomatic document that allegedly went missing from Imran Khan's possession. Previously, Imran Khan had claimed that the document was evidence of a foreign conspiracy aimed at ousting his government through a vote of no confidence in April the previous year.
Imran Khan was arrested and transferred to Attock Jail on August 5, 2023, after an Islamabad court sentenced him to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case. Following the suspension of his sentence by the IHC, he was arrested in the cypher case and remained in custody on judicial remand.
Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi had their judicial remand extended until October 10 on September 26. On September 30, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) designated Imran Khan and Qureshi as the principal accused in the case.
