Imran Khan wants special court to summon ex-army general Bajwa, US diplomat in cipher case

Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain of the Special Court set up under the Official Secrets Act resumed the hearing of the cipher case against former PTI chairman Imran Khan and his aide Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Adiala jail.

Speaking to the media, PTI lawyer Babar Awan said that former premier Imran Khan desires an ex-army officer and a US diplomat to be summoned by the special court. “Imran Khan has said that the US embassy representative should be summoned and he also took the name of a former general,” he said.

However, Awan didn't mention the name of the former army officer, reporters who attended the hearing mentioned the name of former army chief (retired) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

“Imran Khan while talking to reporters in the jail (during the jail trial) said that 'he (Bajwa) did all on the directions of Donald Lu, I will also bring US Embassy officials and Gen Bajwa in dock (as witness)," journalist Azaz Syed said in a social media post.

The judge adjourned the hearing until December 12 when charges will be framed against Imran Khan and Qureshi.

According to the Federal Investigation Agency, the cipher case involves a secret diplomatic document that reportedly contained a threat from the United States to remove Imran Khan as prime minister, who allegedly later disclosed the secret cable (cipher).

The duo was indicted in the case on October 23. Both pleaded not guilty to the alleged charges.

The trial was being held at the Adiala jail with four witnesses already recording their statements until an Islamabad High Court bench declared the government’s notification for jail trial “erroneous” and invalidated the entire proceedings.