pakistan

Cipher case: Qureshi requests special court to summon President Alvi

Published

6 months ago

December 2, 2023

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Cipher case: Qureshi requests special court to summon President Alvi

As the cipher trial proceedings resumed at Adiala Jail on Saturday, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi requested the special court to summon President Dr Arif Alvi to determine whether or not he had assented to the changes in the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

Back in August, while President Alvi maintained he had not approved any changes to the Secrets Act and Pakistan Army Act, the Law Ministry censured his statement, asking him to take responsibility for his actions.

The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic cable which according to the charge-sheet of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was never returned by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, who had alleges it contained a threat from the United States to oust him as the prime minister of Pakistan.

Both the former premier and former foreign minister were indicted in the case on Oct 23.

While their trial was ongoing at Adiala Jail in which they pleaded not guilty, the Islamabad High Court scrapped the entire proceedings, ruling that the very notification for the “jail trial” released by the government was “erroneous”.

At the time, four witnesses had already testified, while the fifth witness was being cross-examined.

Following the high court’s decision, the special court has to begin a fresh trial now.

In this respect, Special Court judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain earlier this week ruled that the trial would continue at Adiala Jail, but in an open court.

Nevertheless, even today (Saturday) media professionals were barred from entering the jail, when the hearing got underway. Only three reporters from news televisions were allowed inside the jail.

During the hearing, the counsels for both the PTI leaders, as well as their family members, appeared before the court.

Later, the attendance of the two PTI chief whips was marked, after which the judge adjourned the hearing till Dec 4 (Monday).

At the commencement of the proceedings, former foreign minister Qureshi inquired whether their trial was being conducted under the Official Secrets Act of 1923 or its amended version.

Stating that the jail administration had violated court orders, he emphasised, “We never had security risks. I used to travel alone in my car.”

Describing the case as unfounded, the PTI leader reminded that President Arif Alvi had expressed his non-assent to the bills amending the Secrets Act. Qureshi urged the court to summon the president, stating, “He should testify in court whether he has assented to these amendments or not.”

Qureshi mentioned that well-known lawyers were prepared to advocate for the PTI chief. Responding to Qureshi, Judge Zulqarnain indicated that his objection had been addressed as “media and the public are present”.

Highlighting that the trials of both PTI leaders couldn’t be conducted separately due to the interconnected nature of the case, the judge recalled that Qureshi had not been presented due to security concerns.

Addressing Qureshi, the judge assured, “No section of the law amended by Arif Alvi will apply to you. Your trial will be conducted according to sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act. We will proceed with the proceedings based on merit.”

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pakistan

Court reserves verdict on PTI founder’s bail plea in May 9 case

Published

19 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Court reserves verdict on PTI founder's bail plea in May 9 case

The Islamabad district and sessions court has reserved verdict on the bail plea of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder in the May 9 case.

Judicial Magistrate Omar Shabbir heard the case against the PTI leader registered in Shahzad Town police station.

Naeem Haider Panjhota, Sardar Masroof and Amina Ali appeared before the judge as counsel for the PTI leader.

The lawyers said the case against the PTI founder had not been pursued by an authorised officer. All cases against him had been instituted on the basis of politics and should, therefore, be quashed, they demanded.

The court after listening to the arguments reserved the verdict.

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pakistan

Rawalpindi court bins plea for initiating case against former commissioner Liaquat Chattha

Published

19 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Rawalpindi court bins plea for initiating case against former commissioner Liaquat Chattha

The Rawalpindi Sessions Court on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking the registration of a case against former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Hakim Khan issued a two-page written order on the petition.

In its order, the court observed that apart from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), a departmental inquiry was also being conducted against the former commissioner.

If the allegations were proven in the ECP and departmental inquiries, a legal action was certain, the order stated, adding that in this situation, there was no justification for registering a separate case against the former Rawalpindi commissioner.

Two lawyers from Rawalpindi had filed the petition seeking the registration of a case against former commissioner.

In a Feb 18 presser, the former commissioner admitted that elections in his division were “rigged”.

The commissioner accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja of being complicit in the rigging and asserted that he, along with the CEC and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, deserved punishment, even the death penalty, for their injustice.

Chattha expressed remorse for forcing his subordinates to engage in wrongdoing and admitted that winning candidates were made to lose on 13 seats in the Rawalpindi division.

Later on Feb 23, Chattha retracted his earlier statement in a written statement submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

In the statement, Chattha confessed to having supported the narrative of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) about rigging in the general elections and maligning state institutions in exchange for a lucrative position in the future.

He stated he had been made this offer by a Lahore-based PTI leader with whom he had developed a close friendship.

Chattha alleged that “this entire planning had been formulated after consultation and approval of the senior leadership of PTI”.

He stated that this proposal was made by the said [PTI] individual in consideration of the fact that he was about to retire from service after having remained a part of the services for 32 years and enjoyed all the perks and privileges.

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pakistan

IHC orders Zartaj Gul to appear before court with record in ECL name removal case

Published

19 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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IHC orders Zartaj Gul to appear before court with record in ECL name removal case

Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought the record from Zartaj Gul’s counsel on a petition seeking the name removal of PTI leader and MNA Zartaj Gul from the Exit Control List (ECL).

IHC’s Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the case on Zartaj Gul’s name removal from ECL.

During the hearing, the state counsel stated that Zartaj Gul’s name has been included in the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).

Upon inquiry from the court, the state counsel informed that Zartaj Gul’s name was included in PNIL on the order of Islamabad and Punjab police, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was responsible for including the name in PNIL.

Also read: PTI’s Shibli Faraz, Raja Basharat, Zartaj Gul secure bail in May 9 cases

State counsel added that five cases were registered against Zartaj Gul in Islamabad and Punjab.

The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Usama, disclosed that Zartaj Gul has been granted bail in those cases. He reiterated that the name was being included in the PNIL list despite being on bail.

During the hearing, Justice Tariq Jahangiri inquired about how many cases Zartaj Gul has been granted bail in and ordered the petitioner to appear before the court in the next hearing.

Consequently, IHC has adjourned the case hearing until next week by directing Zartaj Gul’s counsel to appear before the court in the next hearing with records.

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