Judge postpones cipher case hearing amid noise

Rawalpindi: The cipher case was heard against the former prime minister, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) founder Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Adiala Jail of Rawalpindi.

According to the details, during the hearing Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood got angry and raised noise in the court. As the situation worsened, the special court judge opted for a temporary break after which it is expected that the hearing will start again.

During the last hearing the special court judge Abu al Hasnat Mohammad Zulqarnain decided to appoint state counsel for representing the two accused, as the defense lawyers again failed to appear before the court.

It was Qureshi who first snatched the case from the state defense counsel and threw it away while also resorting to shouting. Similarly, the PTI former chairman used insulting language against the judge during the hearing held at the Adiala jail.

Earlier, Raja Rizwan Abbasi the Federal Investigation Agency prosecutor had requested the special court established under the Official Secrets Act to close the defense counsel’s right of cross-examination, said the defense was applying delaying tactics to prolong the trial.