Rawalpindi: Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison in cipher case.

Verdict was pronounced by Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqernain of Official Secrets Act Special Court after conducting proceedings in Adiala Jail.

Judge said prosecution had enough solid evidence to prove crime. Both accused were present in courtroom at time of sentencing, and they refused to sign statement questionnaire under Section 342 of CrPC. They said they would not sign questionnaire in absence of their lawyers.

In aftermath, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf top leadership vehemently rejected verdict handed down by special court under Official Secrets Act. Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, central leader of Tehreek-e-Insaf, addressed media, urging party supporters to exhibit restraint and avoid expressing anger.

He said that PTI would challenge cipher case trial in court, expressing hope that punishment meted out to PTI founder Imran Khan would be annulled.

Both PTI leaders were accused of conspiracy to misuse contents of cipher to fulfill nefarious purposes. Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain announced verdict in cipher case soon after recording statements of two accused under Section 342 during hearing.

Court in its verdict said prosecution had enough evidence to prove charges against former Prime Minister and ex-Foreign Minister. We will challenge punishment awarded to PTI founder and ex-Foreign Minister after receiving detailed verdict in cipher case, Barrister Ali Zafar said.

Zafar criticised verdict and termed sentence to PTI leaders ‘mockery’ of justice. Jail trial in cipher case was against Article 10-A, he claimed. According to report, action also will be taken against Azam Khan and Asad Umar after authorities reached conclusion that they were also involved in misusing classified documents.

PTI stalwart Omer Ayub Khan took to social media platform X declaring his rejection of verdict, citing political motives behind decision. Senior journalist Nadeem Malik termed it as ‘political sentence’. He said that it was not fair verdict announced by special court.

Nadeem Malik said such verdicts came under umbrella of judicial murder.

Imran and Qureshi were initially indicted in October, but Islamabad High Court deemed government’s notification for jail trial as “Erroneous,” leading to scrapping of proceedings.

PMLN senior leader Rana Sanaullah Khan said that cipher case was clear-cut case as there was no dispute in it that former prime minister declassified classified documents of cipher case. PML-N leader Azam Nazir Tarar said that decisions continue to be criticised and it should be. But Constitution does not allow personal attacks nor does law.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 31 2024

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.