The Islamabad High Court has summoned the Attorney General and the FIA following the founder chairman of PTI’s plea against conducting the cipher case trial in camera. However, the court did not grant an immediate halt to the trial as requested.
Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb expressed the desire to hear the Attorney General’s perspective on the matter. The court was surprised by the four-week deadline set by the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court for concluding the cipher case trial, stating that such extended timelines are uncommon even in regular cases.
During the hearing presided over by Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, the plea against the confidential nature of the cipher case trial was discussed. Salman Akram Raja, the petitioner’s lawyer, highlighted that the court, based on the prosecution’s request, opted for an in-camera trial, emphasizing that any coverage of the case could potentially impact diplomatic ties with friendly nations. Media and social platforms were barred from reporting on the proceedings, while the accused’s family members were permitted in court with strict instructions to refrain from discussing the trial.
The court raised concerns about whether the indictment had been presented and if the accused were restricted from even acknowledging its existence. Raja clarified that the accused were indeed bound by such constraints.
Raja further elaborated that the prosecution alleged Imran Khan’s actions had compromised cipher security, stating that cipher codes are regularly changed for security purposes.
Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb questioned whether the court had issued a notice regarding the in-camera proceedings and when the indictment was imposed on the accused.
The court highlighted an issue with the case—namely, that the trial was being conducted by one lawyer while appeals were handled by another. Raja clarified that Mr. Panjotha was handling the trial. Additionally, the court was informed that a notice was served on December 13 regarding the in-camera application scheduled for December 14. As it is a priority case, the trial court is conducting daily hearings.
When discussing the case’s priority status, Raja referenced the rejection of Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s bail and the single bench’s directive to conclude the trial within four weeks. The judge expressed surprise at this four-week deadline, stating that such timeframes were not customary, even in standard cases. Raja requested an injunction on the cipher case trial.
The court opted to hear the Attorney General before making any decisions and adjourned the hearing until the following day.
