A special court established under the Official Secrets Act has decided to extend the judicial remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan until September 13 in connection with the case involving a missing cypher. The case revolves around an incident on March 27, 2022, when Imran Khan, who was the former premier at the time, presented what he claimed to be a cypher at a public gathering in Islamabad. This event followed a vote of no-confidence that led to his ousting from power.
The cypher issue remained a subject of discussion and speculation, and its significance was recently revived when a US publication published its alleged contents. As a result, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched an investigation into the purported disappearance of the diplomatic cypher. Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were booked under the Official Secrets Act, a law that was recently enacted.
Earlier proceedings in the case had led to Imran Khan’s judicial remand instead of physical remand, as requested by the FIA. The court’s decision meant that only a bail application could be filed before the trial commenced. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the PTI’s second-in-command, had already been arrested in connection with the same case.
Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain of the special court conducted the recent hearing at the Attock jail, where Imran Khan is being held. The PTI chairman’s legal team, comprising lawyers Salman Safdar and Intezar Panjutha, were present during the proceedings. Imran Khan was presented before the court for attendance, following which the decision to extend his judicial remand was made.
In response to the developments, Imran Khan’s legal team filed a post-arrest bail application, arguing that there is no valid case under the Official Secrets Act against him. They contended that the entire matter had been fabricated for political retaliation.
The case continues to draw attention as it intertwines legal proceedings with political implications. The extension of Imran Khan’s judicial remand raises anticipation for further developments in the coming weeks.
