Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi will stay detained for the ensuing 14 days as a special court created under the Official Secrets Act on Tuesday prolonged their judicial remand in the cipher case till October 10.
Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain conducted the hearing of the case at the Attock jail.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team was also present, while PTI lawyers Barrister Salman Safdar, Latif Khosa, Umer Niazi, and Naeem Panjutha made their appearance before the court.
On the other hand, Qureshi was transported by the FIA team to the Federal Judicial Complex while being restrained, where the court personnel noted his attendance.
Later, the judge decided to keep him in custody until October 10.
The PTI chairman and vice chairman were both charged by the FIA last month for allegedly misplacing and abusing confidential documents for their own political gain.
“Consequent upon the conclusion of the inquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in the secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorized person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” read first information report (FIR) registered against the PTI leaders.
Both leaders were subsequently detained in connection with the case investigation, and a special court was set up in accordance with the Official Secrets Act to hear the cases' defendants.
Speaking to the media, lawyer Khosa stated that PTI chief Imran Khan would have been granted bail today had the FIA filed the challan with the court.
He also bemoaned the fact that the country's laws and constitution are being broken.
The lawyer said that court decisions are being disregarded by the authorities in reference to the detention of PTI leaders despite their being granted bail by courts.
"Parvez Elahi has received bail many times, but he is still in custody," he said.