ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Law on Tuesday issued a notification to conduct trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Adiala jail in Cypher case after the Law and Justice Division said it had ‘no objection’ to the jail trial.
The ministry issued the notification after Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain wrote a letter to the Ministry of Law, seek a notification regarding jail trial cypher case due to security concerns.
Earlier, the FIA submitted challan in the cypher case in the special court constituted under the Official Secrets Act. Both the incarcerated PTI chairman and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi were indicted in the challan.
The FIA pleaded to the court for trial and conviction of the PTI chairman and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
The FIA registered a first information report (FIR) on August 15 under the Official Secrets Act on the complaint of the Home Secretary.
Former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were nominated in the report, while names of former principal secretary Azam Khan and former planning minister Asad Umar were also mentioned.
Four special court judges appointed
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Law and Justice has notified the appointment of four special court judges in different districts of Punjab on deputation basis.
According to the notification issued on Tuesday, District and Sessions Judge Amjad Ali Shah will perform as Special Judge Central Rawalpindi with District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Naeem Sheikh deputed as Special Judge Central Gujranwala.
Similarly, two other district and sessions judges – Rana Zahid Iqbal and Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh – are appointed in special courts established for Faisalabad and Lahore respectively.
The special courts are sanctioned under Section 8 (i) of the Protection of Pakistan Act, 2014 to provide protection against waging of war or insurrection against the country, prevention of acts threatening its security, speedy trial of offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
In this connection, the process stipulates that the government, after consulting with the chief justice concerned, may appoint any person as a special court judge who is or has been a sessions judge in any province of Pakistan, or has been an advocate of the high court for a period of not less than 10 years, and is not more than 70 years of age.
