IHC issues notice to FIA on Imran’s bail plea in cipher case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), seeking a respose on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s bail application in the cipher case.

The development came during the hearing of Khan’s bail petition, challenging the decision of the special court — established under the Official Secrets Act — which rejected the post-arrest bail petitions filed by the PTI chairman and his party’s Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case.

The former prime minister had filed the plea on Saturday, and the IHC scheduled it for Monday’s hearing.IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the notice in response to the plea filed by lawyer Salman Safdar on behalf of the PTI chief.

The PTI chief’s legal team repeatedly urged for an early hearing of the case, following which the IHC chief justice emphasised that there was a proper procedure in place, and the case will be decided accordingly.

The FIA has been directed to submit its response to the PTI chief’s petition. Khan and Qureshi are on judicial remand in the cipher case till September 26.

Last month, the FIA booked PTI chief and his party’s vice chairman under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly misplacing and misusing the classified document for vested political interests.Subsequently, both leaders were arrested in connection with the investigation into the case and a special court was established under the Official Secrets Act to try the accused.