The Supreme Court of Pakistan has approved the bail of former PTI chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case. The apex court accepted the PTI leaders’ petition against the high court verdict, granting them bail in exchange for bail bonds of Rs1 million each.
A three-member bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Sardar Tariq Masood and comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah, heard the petitions challenging the Islamabad High Court verdict in the cipher case.
During the hearing, Justice Minallah remarked that the former prime minister is innocent, as no crime could be proved against him. The court accepted PTI lawyer Hamid Khan’s request for additional time to present arguments on a petition against the indictment.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, argued for bail, highlighting a delay in filing the FIR in the cipher case and asserting that the former prime minister was innocent. The court questioned the Foreign Office’s role in handling ciphers and the sensitivity of such information.
The lawyer argued that the cipher case was unprecedented in the country’s history and questioned the application of the Official Secrets Act to the former prime minister. He emphasized that the original cipher was with the Foreign Ministry, and if it was leaked, the responsibility lies with them.
The Supreme Court, while granting bail, raised questions about the danger to society by keeping the former prime minister in jail and directed the lawyer to read Azam Khan’s statement. The case involves complexities surrounding the alleged conspiracy, disappearance, and statements made by the individuals involved.
