ATTOCK: A special court on Wednesday extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi till September 26 in the missing cypher case.
Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, who heard the case at the Attock District Jail, under the Official Secrets Act 2023, extended the judicial remand of Imran Khan in the case of the missing classified document.
The hearing of the case took place at the Attock Jail following approval by the Law Ministry amid security concerns expressed by the Interior Ministry.
Speaking to journalists outside the court during his court, the former foreign minister urged Judge Zulqarnain, who is hearing the case, to provide him with justice.
“I am innocent and a political prisoner. Pray that God gives me the strength to bear this coercion with patience. My only request to the judge is that justice should be delayed but it should not be denied,” the PTI leader said.
The PTI Chairman Imran Khan was sent to jail on August 5 following his conviction in the Toshakhana case. On August 29, the IHC had suspended his sentence but he was charged in the cypher case.
However, a special court had directed Attock jail authorities to keep him in “judicial lockup” in connection with the cypher case.
Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its verdict on a petition filed by PTI chairman challenging the law ministry’s decision to conduct the trial in the cipher case at Attock jail.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq reserved the verdict on PTI chairman’s plea after hearing the arguments. The court had sought an explanation from the respondents on the notice.
“I’m not guilty, I’m a political prisoner. With courage and bravery we will tolerate everything”- Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi reached the special court: pic.twitter.com/RYGIUxmE5X
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 13, 2023
