ISLAMABAD – A special court, established under Official Secrets Act, on Tuesday convicted PTI founder Imran Khan and his deputy Shah Mahmood Qureshi in cipher case.
Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain has awarded ten years imprisonment to the the former prime minister and ex-foreign minister each during hearing of the case at the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.
The judge provided a questionnaire to both political leaders to record their statements under Section 342. Both PTI bigwigs submitted their response to 36 questions to the court.
Before handing down the sentence, the judge asked Imran Khan about the whereabouts of the cipher, which PTI founder has been claimed carried evidence of US conspiracy behind toppling of his government.
To which, the former premier said the cipher was not in possession, adding that the security of the Prime Minister’s House was not his responsibility.
Later, the court awarded the jail sentence after finding the guilty in the case.
The PTI founder had been accused of keeping a copy of the cipher with himself and misused the state secret. The FIA in its challan had said said that the former premier had not returned the copy of cipher.
The development comes shortly after Imran Khan challenged the appointment of the state lawyers in the cipher case.
Imran Khan filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) through his lawyers, requesting that the court declare the order of January 26 in the cipher case null and void, and also declare the action taken after appointment of the state counsels null and void.
PTI leader Barrister Gohar said that he personally saw the murder of justice in Adiala Jail, where court proceedings against Imran Khan in fake cases are being conducted contrary to the demands of law and justice, whereas judges are bound to conduct fair proceedings based on the fundamental constitutional demands of hearing impartially, regardless of the nature of the allegations in any case.
Barrister Gohar said that in such sensitive cases, it is also the responsibility of the judges to maintain transparency and the minimum standards of justice.
PTI Supporters Asked to Stay Calm
PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan asked the party workers to remain calm and urged them not to take the law into their hands over the court’s ruling.
He said that efforts were being made to shift focus from the February 8 general elections.
Meanwhile, Barrister Ali Zafar said that the verdict will be challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after the detailed ruling is issued.
