The Islamabad High Court has ruled that PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s bail petition in the cipher case will be heard in an open court.

The court gave this ruling while disposing of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) request for an in-camera hearing of the case.

The decision stated that whatever documents needed to be presented in-camera they will be considered through mutual consensus among lawyers.

The FIA prosecutor had demanded that proceedings be held in-camera and the public kept out of court. The court said the public was already not attending the trial as it was being held in jail.

The PTI chairman’s bail application will be heard on October 9 at 2pm.

Cipher case put off

Earlier on Wednesday, the special court of the Official Secrets Act held its first hearing of the cipher case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi at Adiala Jail.

Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqernain, however, adjourned the hearing without proceeding till October 9 and rejected a request of Imran Khan’s lawyers to halt proceedings in the case.

The court was told that the PTI chief’s lawyers have challenged the jail trial and in-camera proceedings of the case in the Islamabad High Court.

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Copies of the investigation report will be shared with the suspects on the next hearing.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyers filed a miscellaneous petition, seeking a halt of the trial. They took the plea that the Islamabad High Court has reserved its judgement on the petitions against the jail trial and in-camera proceedings of the case.

They sought a halt in the trial till a decision of the high court to ensure transparency and fairness.

The special court dismissed the request and ruled that since there is no stay order, the proceedings of the trial court could not be stopped.

The FIA’s investigation report had declared Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi guilty in the cipher case.

'No deal with anyone'

Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, the PTI chief’s lawyers said they had asked for postponement of the matter as it was in the high court and a decision should be awaited.

Salman Safdar said they met the PTI chief briefly; the trial is being conducted in a small room, suggesting the trial be conducted before the public.

Lawyer Umair Niazi said Imran Khan had categorically said there will be no deal with anyone. He also said someone else is trying to be saved in this case. The chairman also gave some instructions regarding the party spokesperson, which could not be disclosed as of now, he added.