The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that the hearing of PTI Chairman Imran Khan's bail plea in the cipher case will be held in an open court, but will be in-camera when "sensitive information" is discussed. The IHC made this decision after disposing of an application filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seeking in-camera proceedings for the bail plea.
The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document that reportedly went missing from Khan's possession. The PTI alleges that the document contained a threat from the United States to oust Khan from office. Khan was arrested in the case on August 5, 2023 and sentenced to three years in prison in the Toshakhana graft case. However, his sentence was suspended and he was placed on judicial remand in the cipher case.
On September 26, 2023, Khan's judicial remand was extended until October 10, 2023 and he was shifted to Rawalpindi's Adiala jail from Attock district jail. On September 30, 2023, the FIA submitted a challan (charge sheet) in the Special Court established under the Official Secrets Act, declaring Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as the principal accused in the cipher case.
Earlier this week, the FIA had sought in-camera proceedings for Khan's bail plea in the cipher case, arguing that an open hearing could pose a "risk of deteriorating relations with other countries." However, the IHC has rejected this request.
Meanwhile, PTI lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar has termed the in-camera trial of Khan and Qureshi as "unconstitutional." He has said that the trial must be held in an open court so that the public can see what is happening.
The next hearing in the cipher case is scheduled for October 9, 2023.
