Former prime minister Imran Khan expressed his disappointment at the appointment of state defense counsels in the cipher case, stating that the trial was nothing short of a “joke” due to both the prosecution and defense team belonging to the government.
The order issued by Judge Abual Hasnaat Muhammad Zulqarnain mentioned that the defense counsel had agreed to conduct cross-examinations on January 16 but did not appear in the subsequent court hearings. As a result, the court was left with no choice but to appoint defense counsels for the accused persons and summon all remaining prosecution witnesses.
The cipher case revolves around a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency alleges was never returned by Imran. The PTI claims that the document contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran as prime minister.
The trial, which is being conducted at Adiala Jail, has faced legal challenges from Imran and Qureshi, who were indicted for a second time in the case in December. Despite this, the cross-examination of witnesses has been delayed, with Imran and Qureshi expressing disbelief at being represented by government lawyers in court.
The case has seen several legal disputes and delays, with the accused persons expressing a lack of trust in the government lawyers representing them. The frustration and uncertainty surrounding the trial continue to escalate, with the next hearing scheduled to continue the cross-examinations of witnesses.
Imran and Qureshi continue to express their dissatisfaction with the proceedings, highlighting the lack of transparency and respect for the rule of law in this case.