IHC acquits Imran, Qureshi in Cipher case

KARACHI
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday acquitted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan and PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the Cipher case.
The court suspended their 10 year sentence as it heard the appeals by the incarcerated ex-PM Imran and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict.
On January 30, the special court established under the Official Secrets Act awarded Imran and Qureshi 10 years imprisonment in the high-profile cipher case. On March 19, the IHC noted that the speeches delivered by Imran and Qureshi at a public rally in Islamabad on March 27, 2022, “appear to be political in nature.”
A division bench comprising the IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb hear the appeals.
The PTI’s lawyer informed the court that in the case, Imran and Qureshi were accused of illegally possessing the secret document, disclosing classified information to the public, and manipulating it for personal gain.
“However, even the special court judge [who convicted the PTI leaders] was not shown the said diplomatic cipher,” he said.
Chief Justice Farooq remarked “If the information has been twisted, then it should be known what the information was.”
Barrister Safdar stated that the PTI leaders were accused of holding and misusing classified information for their purposes. However, in this case, the prosecution failed to link the alleged crime with revealing secrets concerning the armed forces and sensitive areas to foreign powers. Justice Aurangzeb inquired, “What was written in the cipher?”
The lawyer replied, “I haven’t seen the cipher, so I can’t tell what is written in it.” He said the cipher code or its text has not been shared anywhere.
“On one hand, it is said that the PTI founder has made everything public; on the other hand, it is said that if the cipher is shown, it will become public.”