ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court on Friday granted post-arrest bail to former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case.
A three-member bench, headed by interim Chief Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah, approved the bail against surety bonds worth Rs1 million each.
Last week, The PTI founder and his deputy were indicted in the cipher case for second time by the special court established under the Official Secrets Act 2023 after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared their jail trial of the political leaders null and void.
Both politicians have denied the allegations of misusing the classified diplomatic cable for their personal interests.
The apex court also heard the petition filed by them on October 23 against their indictment. At the outset of the hearing, Justice Masood remarked that the IHC had already invalidated the indictment on November 21.
He said that the fresh indictment will not be affected by the previous proceedings that were declared null and void by the high court.
After Justice Masood observed that previous petition stood infructuous after the IHC order, adding that the politicians should file a fresh plea if they have concerns regarding the fresh appointment.
To this, PTI lawyer Hamid Khan pleaded the court to wait for the IHC’s decision which is expected today regarding in-camera trial in the cipher case.
Later, Barrister Salman Safdar said that Hamid Khan made some changes to the petition and requested the court to take it up as a fresh one. The court then adjourned the hearing on the petition against the indictment and took up their bail pleas, subsequently approving them .
