Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan Indicted In Cipher Case (screen grab from twitter/Imran Khan)

A special court on Monday indicted Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chief for alleged leaking of classified documents. This case also add up to the numerous legal charges attached to the cricketer-turned-politician since his ousting in April 2022. Ex-Foreign Minister and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also indicted in the case.

Pakistani government formed the special court under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to hear the cipher case registered against these senior PTI leaders. The trial will start when the charges are established and prosecution”s evidence is recorded.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Special Prosecutor Shah Khawar said to the reporters that, “He has been indicted today and the charge was openly read out.”

It was on August 2023, the FIA booked Mr Khan and Mr Qureshi under Section 5 of the OSA 1923 in the Cipher case. On 5th August 2023, PTI chairman was taken into custody after he was convicted to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case. Later, on 29th August, the Islamabad High Court suspended the sentence given to the ex-cricketer in the Toshakhana case and permitted bail. However, despite receiving bail, Mr Khan had to continue remain in custody since he was arrested in the cipher case hours after granting bail from the Islamabad High Court. PTI chairman is also forbidden from running in upcoming elections in January 2024.

Concurrently, on 19th August, the FIA arrested Mr Qureshi from his Islamabad residence in this same case.

The present indictment going to further their legal troubles, especially when elections could be held soon in Pakistan. Mr Khan”s lawyers say that Cipher case indictment could lead to 14 years imprisonment, and in extreme cases, the death penalty.

Currently, both PTI leaders, Mr Khan and Mr Qureshi are in Adiala jail on judicial custody in the cipher case.