The special court hearing the cipher case adjourned hearing till November 21 on Friday.

Judge Abu Alhasnaat Zulqurnain presided over hearings in Adiala Jail and decided to adjourn them in light of a stay order issued by the Islamabad High Court.

Federal Investigation Agency’s special prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi appeared in the hearing on Friday. However, the FIA did not bring along any witnesses as was done on previous hearings.

A two-member bench had initally issued a stay order against the jail trial in the cipher case till November 16. On Thursday, the stay order was extended to November 21.

The cipher case, registered under the Official Secrets Act, has charged Imran Khan with illegally retaining and communicating a classifed cable sent by Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who as foreign minister under Khan, is accused of abetting him.

All hearings of the case have been held in a special court which is set up inside the jail compound with media and unconcerned personnel barred from witnessing proceedings.