Cipher case: PTI chief's trial court proceedings stay, case dismissal pleas clubbed together
Pakistan
Cipher case: PTI chief’s trial court proceedings stay, case dismissal pleas clubbed together
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Islamabad High Court has clubbed together Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman’s petitions seeking the suspension of the trial court proceedings in the cipher case and the dismissal of the case altogether.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, who conducted the hearing on former prime minister’s petition seeking to suspend the former prime minister’s trial in the cipher case today (Thursday), clubbed it with the main plea seeking to dismiss the case against him altogether.
Appearing before the court, Sardar Latif Khosa, the counsel for the PTI chief, explained that the petitions sought to stay the trial court proceedings and challenge the special court’s indictment order.
He further informed that the matter was pending with an IHC bench and a verdict had been reserved. He told the court that the Lahore High Court had also issued a stay order in a case by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Khosa reasserted that he had urged the special court not to act in haste as the matter was pending before the high court, adding that he had concerns over the application of the Official Secrets Act in the case.
The PTI chief’s counsel questioned that what security was compromised or what secrecy was leaked, recalling that “(Zulfikar Ali) Bhutto sahib had made similar remarks in his speech at Raja Bazaar.”
Khosa argued that his client was a national hero and “the whole world knows that. Although he is innocent, he is now behind the bars”.
When Chief Justice Aamer Farooq asked Latif Khosa if the separate petition might be combined with the one seeking the dismissal of the case, he replied in the affirmative, but conditioned that it be fixed before October 17.
Upon this, Justice Farooq inquired what would happen on October 17. The counsel replied that there would be great unpleasantness, as the indictment would be taking place in the trial on the day.
At this, CJ Farooq observed that he would make sure that the petitions were fixed for hearing before October 17.
The cipher case pertains to the alleged missing of a diplomatic document from the PTI chief’s possession which the party alleges contained a threat from the United States to remove the former prime minister from the office.
On Wednesday, the PTI chief through his counsel Sher Afzal Marwat moved the high court challenging a special court’s order to indict him in the cipher case.
The state, judge special court, and Secretary Interior Yousaf Naseem Khokhar were made respondents in the petition.
Meanwhile PTI chief’s another lawyer, Naeem Haider Panjutha, deplored the delay in the hearing of the bail plea of his client in the cipher case.
Panjutha expressed his displeasure in a post on X, stating the hearing was supposed to start at 2pm but it had not started till 2:34pm at least. He added that even the previous hearing began late, due to which it had to be adjourned.
— Naeem Haider Panjutha (@NaeemPanjuthaa) October 12, 2023
