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Published 26 Sep, 2023 01:00pm

IHC to conduct open-court hearing in cypher case

The Islamabad High Court has decided to conduct the upcoming hearing on the cypher case in an open court.

The chief justice of IHC announced the written judgment on an application to conduct an in-camera hearing on the bail plea of PTI Chief Imran Khan in the cypher case.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq directed the prosecution to file a separate application for holding an in-camera hearing on the case.

During his arguments, special prosecutor Shah Khawar said that there are documents and information that are privileged and sensitive and could not be made public.

Read: Special court adjourns bail hearing in cypher case

Khan’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar said the public could be excluded from the proceedings if the court deemed it necessary.

Court orders to shift PTI chief to Adiala jail

The IHC ordered to shift Khan from Attock jail to Adiala jail after his lawyers challenged his confinement in the Attock prison.

“The petitioner is ordered to be shifted from Central Jail Attock to Central Jail Adyala, Rawalpindi and all the Office Orders/Notifications, transferring the petitioner to Central Jail Attock, are set aside; he shall be entitled to all the facilities which are afforded to a better Class prisoner,” the court order stated.

Read: ‘Well adjusted’ Imran Khan refuses to be moved from Attock jail as remand extended

The court admitted that all prisons in Pakistan are overcrowded, however, to say that it cannot house another prisoner, would not reflect the correct position.

“Since the status of the petitioner is one of undertrial prisoner, hence he ought to be confined in Central Jail Adyala, Rawalpindi and no justification exists for his confinement at the present place,” it said.

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