Bushra Siddiqui

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken action on Thursday, issuing a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in response to a petition filed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The petition challenges the in-camera proceedings of the cipher trial at Adiala Jail, raising concerns about the trial, framing of charges, and a media gag order.

Imran Khan’s legal counsel, Barrister Salman Akram Raja, appeared in court as Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb initiated the hearing. The former premier’s plea questions the trial’s transparency and subsequent developments at Adiala Jail, where the cipher case trial restarted recently.

The cipher case revolves around a diplomatic document that the FIA alleges was never returned by Imran Khan. The document, according to the PTI, contains a threat from the United States to oust Imran as prime minister.

The IHC had previously endorsed Imran’s indictment but termed the government’s notification for a jail trial as “erroneous,” leading to the scrapping of the initial proceedings. The court emphasized the importance of transparency and openness in the judicial system in a detailed judgment issued on Dec 20.

During the recent hearing, Imran’s counsel highlighted the prosecution’s single allegation without adequate explanation. The court sought clarification on the trial’s timeline and the meaning of a “direction case.” Imran’s counsel requested a stay in the case, which the court did not immediately accept, issuing a notice to the FIA for its response.

The court expressed its preference to hear the attorney general’s statement on the matter and adjourned the hearing until Friday.