A special court in Adiala Jail has sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to 10 years’ imprisonment in the high-profile cipher case. The verdict was delivered by Judge Abu Alhasnaat Zulqurnain during a hearing on Tuesday.
The case revolves around the alleged illegal retention and communication of a classified diplomatic cable sent by Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington. The court had examined a total of 25 witnesses, with only four of them being presented by the defence.
Amidst loud disagreements in recent days, the judge had appointed state defence counsels for both Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, leading to further tension in the proceedings. The presence of Khan’s sisters and Qureshi’s children at the jail for the hearing added to the gravity of the situation.
Earlier reports had suggested that the court might record statements from both accused under section 342 of the criminal procedure code during the hearing. The courtroom drama intensified as the judge addressed claims from PTI leaders that their lawyers were being denied access to the proceedings. In response, the judge stated that the lawyers had refused to appear.
In a parallel move, Imran Khan approached the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday to challenge the appointment of state defence lawyers. Khan’s legal team called for all proceedings since the appointment of state lawyers on January 26 to be declared void. However, the court announced the verdict before any decision on the petition could be made.
This development marks a critical juncture in the ongoing legal battle over the cipher case, with the PTI having approached the Islamabad High Court multiple times in the past and obtaining favorable judgments regarding the jail trial. The sentencing of two prominent political figures is expected to have far-reaching implications on the political landscape of Pakistan.
