In Islamabad, a specialized court established under the Official Secrets Act has granted an extension of judicial remand for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and the party’s Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi until September 26 in connection with the cipher case.
Imran Khan has been held in Attock jail since August 5 following his conviction in the Toshakhana case. His sentence was temporarily suspended by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which directed authorities to release him from custody.Â
Subsequently, the Federal Investigation Agency detained him in relation to the cipher case under charges of violating the Official Secrets Act.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also arrested in the same case on August 19 at his residence in Islamabad.
Special Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain presided over the cipher case proceedings at Attock jail, following a notification from the law ministry aimed at maintaining public order.
During the hearing, the prosecution requested an extension of PTI Chief Imran Khan’s remand, which was contested by PTI lawyers who deemed Khan’s detention unnecessary. After hearing arguments, the judge decided to extend Khan’s remand until September 26.
Additionally, the judge considered the FIA’s plea for an extension in Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s remand and granted the extension while the PTI vice president was brought to court in handcuffs.
Last month, the Federal Investigation Agency initiated another case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, accusing him of mishandling a US cipher, which he had previously presented as evidence of Washington’s involvement in his removal.
