The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has indicated that it will soon deliver its reserved verdict on former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s miscellaneous pleas concerning the trial for the cypher case and the decision to conduct proceedings inside Adiala jail. This announcement by the IHC has drawn attention, given the high-profile nature of the case and its implications for Imran Khan, who currently faces legal challenges on multiple fronts.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Sher Afzal Marwat, represented the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson before IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. Marwat informed the court that the trial for the cypher case had already commenced within the prison, with the next hearing scheduled for October 9. However, the decision on Imran Khan’s plea against this trial location is yet to be disclosed.
In response to the petitioner’s request for a swift decision, Justice Farooq pledged to expedite the process, indicating that a verdict would be delivered within two to three days. Notably, the issue of Imran Khan’s objection to being transferred to Adiala jail was also raised during the proceedings. Justice Farooq sought clarification from the PTI chairperson’s counsel, pointing out that it was Imran Khan’s own petition that had led to his transfer from Attock jail to Adiala jail. This apparent contradiction puzzled the judge.
Justice Farooq reminded Imran Khan’s lawyer that the request for transfer to Adiala jail had been approved, raising questions about why the matter had been publicized in the media. Marwat responded by stating that no official statement had been issued to the press on behalf of the PTI chief. Expressing surprise at the media reports, Justice Farooq noted his astonishment.
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During the proceedings, Marwat highlighted the defense’s expectation of B-Class facilities for the former premier in Adiala jail, which had not been met. Justice Farooq informed the court that Barrister Latif Khosa, a senior member of Imran’s legal team, had filed a petition regarding this matter the day before. The court intends to issue notices related to this petition, indicating that the issue will be further examined.
The legal saga involving Imran Khan has been marked by twists and turns. He was arrested for the second time this year on August 5, following his conviction in the Toshakhana case by a district and sessions court. While the IHC subsequently suspended the three-year prison term imposed on Imran, it came to light that he had been placed on judicial remand in the cypher case. This case revolves around a diplomatic cable from the United States that allegedly went missing from Imran Khan’s possession. The PTI has claimed that this cypher contained a threat from the US calling for Imran’s removal from the Prime Minister’s office.
In a recent development, on Thursday, Imran Khan approached the IHC, appealing for the annulment of the verdict issued by the trial court in the Toshakhana case. Additionally, he sought to challenge the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notification, which disqualified him from contesting in the upcoming general elections.
As the legal battles involving Imran Khan unfold, the upcoming verdict on his plea regarding the jail trial location remains a focal point. The decision of the IHC will undoubtedly have significant implications for the former Prime Minister’s legal proceedings and political future.
