On Wednesday, a Pakistani court reissued charges against the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his foreign minister.
The case accuses both politicians of divulging state secrets, and a special court in Rawalpindi framed the charges during a hearing in the jail where the case is being conducted. The trial, known as the “cipher case,” is set to commence on Thursday.
Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who entered a plea of not guilty, had previously been indicted in October. However, the Islamabad High Court declared the initial indictment invalid last month, citing the “illegality” of their jail trial.
The “cipher case” pertains to diplomatic communications between Washington and Islamabad, with Khan alleging it to be part of a US conspiracy to overthrow his government. In a related development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the country’s top electoral body, postponed the hearing of a contempt case until December 19.
Khan and his former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry are facing trial for making “contemptuous” statements against the commission. The ECP case is being heard by a four-member bench in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.
Imran Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, faced a vote of confidence in April 2022, resulting in his loss.
In August 2022, a trial court in Islamabad sentenced him for concealing details of and unlawfully selling state gifts received during his tenure. Consequently, Pakistan’s Election Commission barred him from holding public office for five years. However, the Islamabad High Court later suspended his sentence and ordered his release.
