The Islamabad High Court has raised questions regarding the basis for a trial judge’s assertion that Pakistan-US relations had deteriorated.
Barrister Salman Safdar, representing the founder of PTI, highlighted concerns during appeals against the cipher case verdict. He criticized the rushed sentencing process and alleged bias against political adversaries.
Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb queried the trial judge’s reference to strained relations, which Salman Safdar attributed to the Pakistani ambassador’s statement, a claim Justice Aurangzeb contested. The Chief Justice deemed the law under which the case was prosecuted unnecessary and questioned its repeal by any assembly in 75 years. Salman Safdar argued that the law was misused for political vendettas, emphasizing the selective prosecution of PTI’s founder. He pointed out discrepancies in handling cipher copies and questioned the singular targeting of his client. The court challenged Safdar to justify his attempts to reduce the 10-year sentence. Safdar defended by stating others also possessed copies and urged for fair treatment. Chief Justice Amir Farooq warned Safdar to address all aspects of the case in the next hearing, adjourning proceedings until then.
