The Islamabad High Court (IHC) delivered a significant verdict on Monday, acquitting Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the high-profile cipher case. The court’s decision comes as a major relief to the defendants, who had been facing charges related to a diplomatic document allegedly not returned by Imran Khan during his tenure as Prime Minister.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict, accepting the appeals filed by Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi against their earlier convictions.
While this acquittal is a significant win for the defendants, they are not expected to be released from prison immediately, as Imran Khan is still serving a sentence in the Iddat case, and Qureshi was recently arrested in connection with the May 9 cases.
The cipher case revolves around a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) alleged was not returned by Imran Khan, who had consistently maintained that the document contained a threat from the US to topple his government. The PTI leadership has hailed the verdict as a victory for justice, with Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stating that the nation has seen the “just verdict” and that the “banner of justice was held high.”
Imran Khan’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, praised the judges for their decision, stating that the state had failed to prove its case and that even the prosecutors had abandoned the case. He lauded Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi for their patience and forbearance, adding that the cipher case was the most important and serious one yet, and that Imran Khan’s release was near.
The PTI has requested the judiciary to expedite the hearing of “false cases” against all political prisoners and ensure their release from jail. This verdict is seen as a significant development in Pakistan’s political landscape, and its implications are being closely watched by the nation.