A special court has extended the judicial remand of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case until October 10. The cipher case is related to a diplomatic document that was reportedly lost from Imran Khan’s possession. The PTI alleges that the document contained a threat from the United States to remove Imran Khan from power.
Imran Khan had recently been serving a three-year jail term in the Toshakhana case, but it was suspended. Following this development, it was revealed that he had been in judicial remand in the cipher case. Due to security reasons, the special court proceedings for Imran Khan are being held at Attock jail, as per the law ministry’s notification.
Imran Khan’s judicial remand had been extended initially until September 13 and later until September 26, along with Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s. Both leaders’ bail pleas were rejected by the special court earlier this month. Subsequently, Imran Khan approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking post-arrest bail.
Recently, the IHC ordered that the former premier be transferred to Adiala jail, but he remains in Attock jail primarily due to security concerns and the absence of a written order.
During the in-camera hearing at Attock jail, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team and Imran Khan’s lawyers were present. The court extended Imran Khan’s judicial remand until October 10 and instructed the FIA to submit a challan soon for the case.
Regarding Imran Khan’s transfer to Adiala jail, his lawyer Latif Khosa stated that the PTI chief had informed the court that he did not wish to be moved there as he had adjusted to Attock jail. Khosa added that he would ask his lawyers to withdraw the plea for the transfer.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi was brought to the special court in Islamabad, where his attendance was marked by court officials, and he was presented in handcuffs.
