Islamabad High Court acquitted former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case.

The two had filed appeals against prison sentences handed to them under the Official Secrets Act.

A two-member bench of the IHC including Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the decision.

A police team formed a barrier infront of the rostrum as the judges returned to the courtroom.

Days before the general election, Khan and Qureshi were sentenced to 10 years each in prison in the cipher case.

Also read:

Cipher case: A complete timeline

Judge issued decision under ‘instructions’: Aleema Khan

Cipher case: Imran, Qureshi sentenced to 10 years in jail

They were accused of illegally retaining and communicating a classified diplomatic cable sent by Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington. Khan had claimed that the cipher contained proof of a conspiracy to oust him from power.

Both Imran and Qureshi are currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail. Despite the sentences being suspended, their release is unlikely as they are booked in a multitude of other cases.