Imrans cipher trial to continue in Adiala jail in open court says judge

Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, who is hearing the cipher case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, ruled on Tuesday that the trial proceedings would continue at the Adiala jail but in an open court.

Citing serious security risks, Adiala jail authorities failed to present the former premier today before the special court at Islamabads Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) as per the orders of the same courts judge.

Last week, Judge Zulqarnain had issued directives that the PTI chief and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi be presented at the FJC.

The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agencys charge sheet alleges was never returned by Imran. The PTI has long held that the document contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran as prime minister.

The trial was being held at Adiala Jail and four witnesses had already recorded their statements, with the fifth being cross-examined when an Islamabad High Court division bench had termed the governments notification for jail trial erroneous and scrapped the entire proceedings.

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