The Supreme Court on Friday has approved former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s bail in the cipher case. It is to be noted that, the court order rolled out on Friday, directing the PTI leaders to submit surety bonds worth Rs1 million each.
The order was issued by a three-member bench headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on set of PTI petitions.
Notably, the cipher case is linked to a diplomatic document that the Federal investigation Agency’s chargesheet alleges was never returned by Imran. The PTI has long held that the document has a threat from the US to oust Imran as a prime minister.
The Special Court (Official Secrets Act) had begun the cipher trial afresh last week at the Adiala jail after Imran and former foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi were indicted for a second time in the case on December 13.
They both were indicted in the case on October 23. Both had pleaded not guilty. The trial was being held at he Adiala Jail and four witnesses had already recorded their statements when the Islamabad High Court termed the government’s notification for a jail trial “erroneous” scrapped the entire proceedings.
Islamabad High Court had endorsed indictment of Imran Khan, disposing of his plea against the same, but had also instructed the special court judge to ensure free and fair trial.
During the last month, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf had moved the apex court asking for Imran’s post-arrest bail in the case. The petition further pleaded that it was unequivocal and well-established principle of the Supreme Court that the bail should never be wielded as form of punishment.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the FIA and the federation on the plea and directed them to submit their response to it.
