According to the official secret act special court, a ban has been imposed on the airing of cipher case proceedings on print, electronic, and social media. The court has directed PTA and PEMRA to ensure strict implementation of the ban, with action against violators. Additionally, the families of PTI founder Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi will be conditionally permitted to attend the court hearing. The special court has also approved the in-camera hearing plea of PTI founder and Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s bail application in the cipher case. Access to the courtroom during the next in-camera hearing has been allowed for family members, with the hearing adjourned till tomorrow.
Cipher case
The first information report (FIR) was registered on August 15 under the Official Secrets Act, naming former prime minister Imran Khan, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former principal secretary Azam Khan, and former planning minister Asad Umar. The report states that action will be taken against Azam Khan and Asad Umar for misusing classified documents, and accuses Khan and Qureshi of distorting the facts of the diplomatic cipher to fulfill nefarious purposes. It also claims that the former premier deliberately kept a copy of the diplomatic cipher sent to the PM office, endangering state interests.