Court rejects Imran Khan’s petition challenging jail trial in cipher case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has said that security concerns justifying Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s jail trial in the cipher case are valid.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced the verdict on the PTI chairman’s petition, which challenged the decision to conduct his trial at Adiala Jail in a case registered under the Official Secrets Act.

The IHC directed Imran Khan to bring forth his concerns regarding the matter before the trial court.

The PTI chairman, whose government was ousted following a vote of no confidence in Parliament last April, has petitioned the IHC to conduct his trial in a courtroom rather than in prison.

“The jail trial is in favour of the PTI chairman in view of his security,” the court said, adding that Khan has repeatedly expressed fears about his safety.

On the other hand, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has submitted a petition to the IHC, contesting his imprisonment trial and urging the court to nullify the trial court’s decision from October 9. In that ruling, the special court announced that both politicians would be indicted in the cipher case on October 17.