IHC division bench to hear PTI chairman’s intra-court appeal in cipher case

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman moved on Monday to the Islamabad High Court to move his trial in the cipher case from prison to an open court, saying his rights were being violated.

The former prime minister, who leads the PTI, has also challenged the appointment of an anti-terrorism judge to preside over the cipher case, which stems from a confidential cable that he allegedly revealed at a rally last year.

The intra-court appeal argues that conducting a secret trial within a prison is a clear violation of fundamental constitutional rights.

Furthermore, the appeal challenges the legality of charging the Official Secrets Act court to an Anti-Terrorism Court judge.

Cipher Case: PTI Chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi indicted

The IHC division bench consisting of Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb and Saman Riffat Imtiaz will hear the intra-court appeal of the PTI chairman on Tuesday (tomorrow).

Earlier, IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq had disposed of the PTI chairman’s request.

Earlier on Monday, a special court indicted the PTI chairman and Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case.

Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain heard the case at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. Howevever, both the suspects have pleaded not guilty.