ISLAMABAD, DEC 21 (ONLINE): Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notice to Attorney General (AG) and FIA on the petition filed by PTI founder Imran Khan against in-camera trial in cipher case.
The court rejected the plea for immediate stopping the trial of cipher case.
The case came up for hearing before single bench of IHC led by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb here Thursday.
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb remarked we want to hear AG on this matter.
Expressing his surprise over giving deadline of four weeks by Chief Justice (CJ) IHC for completion of trial of cipher case remarked we don’t give four weeks time in general cases.
Suleman Akram Raja counsel for petitioner said the court announced the decision of holding in-camera trial on the request of prosecution. It wrote in the decision there will be ban on coverage of cipher case too because relations with friendly countries can be affected due to reporting of court’s proceedings. Ban has been imposed on media and social media to publish proceedings of cipher case. The family members of the accused are conditionally allowed to sit in trial. But they have been made bound that they cannot talk about court’s proceedings.
The court inquired if the indictment has been framed they cannot tell the indictment has been made.
The lawyer said notabsolutely not. They have been made bound not to tell about court’s proceedings.
Suleman Akram Raja said it has been said by the prosecution that the act by Imran Khan has affected cipher security. They leveled this allegation but no clarification was given what was security. The concerned authorities tell that cipher codes are changed after some months.
Justice Miangul Hassan inquired had court issued notice on the application for in-camera proceedings. When the accused were indicted?
The court remarked on problem is coming in this case. One lawyer is dealing with trial while some other lawyer is filing appeals.
Suleman Akram Raja told the court Mr Punjotha is here who is dealing with trial. He has told that the indictment was made on December 14. Notice was issued for December 14 on December 13 applications for in-camera trial. Hearing is being held in the court on day to day basis being direction case.
The court inquired how it is direction case.
Suleman Akram Raja told the court single bench while rejecting Shah Mehmood Qureshi bail directed to complete the trial within 4 weeks.
The judge while expressing surprise said is it really correct that 4 weeks time has been given. We don’t give 4 weeks time for commons cases.
Suleman Akram Raja requested the court to issue stay order on trial of cipher case.
The court remarked we are issuing notice to AG. Let us hear him first.
Later the hearing of the case was adjourned.
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