The Islamabad High Court has dismissed the plea made by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer to halt the trial in the cipher case. The case revolves around the contentious issue of conducting a jail trial for Khan, and the court’s decision carries significant implications for the ongoing legal proceedings.
The division bench of the high court, composed of Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Riffat, heard an intra-court appeal challenging the jail trial of Imran Khan. The appeal raised concerns about the legality and necessity of conducting the trial within the confines of a jail.
During the proceedings, Justice Aurangzeb remarked that the objections raised in the case would need to be addressed, and the file could potentially be submitted to the chief justice for further consideration. The court’s decision to reject the plea was based on the understanding that granting interim relief at this stage was not feasible. Whether the application is admissible or not will be determined at a later stage in the legal process.
Justice Aurangzeb also emphasized the importance of upholding legal standards, stating that rules cannot be violated by anyone. The court is currently working to address the objections raised by the registrar’s office regarding the application.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, argued that the decision to conduct a jail trial was made with the purported aim of ensuring the suspect’s security. However, he pointed out that neither the suspect was asked nor did he request a jail trial on security grounds.
Furthermore, the petitioner had also raised concerns about nullifying the order to assign the Official Secrets Act court to a terrorism court judge. Salman Akram Raja contended that the petitioner had challenged the validity of the September 29 notification, arguing that the relevant authority for such decisions should have been the commissioner rather than the Ministry of Law.
It’s worth noting that a previous ruling by a single bench of the high court had upheld the decision to proceed with the jail trial and the appointment of the Official Secrets Act court judge.
The court’s decision to reject Imran Khan’s plea underscores the importance of adherence to legal procedures and standards in the ongoing legal proceedings. As the case continues to unfold, it will be closely monitored for its legal and political implications.