Court approves four-day physical remand of Qureshi

Islamabad: The country's first special court set up under the Official Secrets Act approved the four-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood in the cypher case.

According to details, the first special court in the country has been set up under the Official Secrets Act, in which PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi was presented.

The additional charge of the Official Secrets Act court was handed over to the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judge Abul Hasnat, who heard the case registered under the Official Secrets Act.

According to the law, the hearing of cases under the Official Secrets Act—in the special court established in Islamabad—will be held in camera.

It has been reported that Judge Abul Hasnat of the Special Court ordered the removal of irrelevant people from the courtroom, saying that it is a matter of Official Secrets Act.

Shah Mehmood's lawyers Shoaib Shaheen, Intizar Panjotha, Gohar Ali and Ali Bukhari are present in the court room while PTI's junior lawyers have also been expelled from the court room.

According to media reports, lawyer Shoaib assured cooperation with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on the Cypher issue and repeatedly opposed physical remand. While lawyer Ali Bukhari also opposed the physical remand of PTI Vice Chairman in his arguments.

Lawyers Ali and Shoaib cited various court decisions while FIA prosecutor Khushnood Ahmed read out the Official Secrets Act, reportedly.

A 13-day physical remand was requested by FIA in the cypher case, however the court handed over Shah Mahmood Qureshi to the FIA for four days and ordered him to be produced again on August 25.

It is pertinent to note that National Assembly passed the Official Secrets Act and the Army Act Amendment Bills and three days ago both the Acts became laws after the approval of the President of Pakistan.

However, there was a sudden uproar in the country yesterday (Sunday) when President Dr. Arif Alvi turned to social media website ‘X’ and stated that neither he sign the Official Secrets Act and the Army Act Amendment Bill nor he agrees with it.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have severely criticized the President of Pakistan for his statement and demanded his resignation.

While PTI has announced to approach the Supreme Court after the statement of President of Pakistan.