Court orders authorities to present Imran Khan, Qureshi on Nov 28 in Cipher case

Islamabad: A special court in Islamabad on Thursday issued a summons for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in connection for November 28 in the Cipher case.

Judge Abu Alhasnaat Zulqurnain passed the orders while hearing the case in light of the directives of the Islamabad High Court.

The legal representatives Ali Bukhari and Khalid Yousaf appeared on behalf of Qureshi during the hearing, where the judge requested a copy of the Islamabad High Court's divisional bench decision—a requirement swiftly met by the court staff.

The court, in accordance with the recent ruling of the Islamabad High Court, declared the jail trial in the cipher case illegal. It deemed proceedings since August 29, including the indictment, to lack lawful authority. Specifically, the court emphasized the law ministry's notification on August 29, permitting the jail trial, as having "no legal effect."

The cipher case originated from an FIR filed on August 15 under the Official Secrets Act, prompted by a complaint from the Home Secretary. The report implicated former Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex-Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, along with references to former principal secretary Azam Khan and ex-planning minister Asad Umar.

The FIR alleged the distortion of diplomatic cipher facts, a conspiracy to misuse the contents for malicious purposes, and the endangerment of state interests by the former premier and top diplomat.