Special court bans media coverage of cipher case

ISLAMABAD: The special court on Thursday imposed a ban on media coverage of cipher case proceedings, ARY News reported.

As per details, the official secret act special court has issued the order regarding ban on cipher case proceedings.

The special court has imposed a ban on airing of cipher case proceedings on print, electronic and social media. The court directed PTA and PEMRA to ensure strict implementation of the court order and action against the violators.

Moreover, the families of PTI founder Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi will be conditionally permitted to attend the court hearing.

Earlier today, the special court approved the in-camera hearing plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s bail application in cipher case.

READ: Cipher case: Special court to hold in-camera trial of PTI founder, Qureshi

The court in its verdict allowed access to the family members to the courtroom during the next in-camera hearing of the cipher case. However, the special court adjourned the hearing of the case till tomorrow.

Cipher case

The first information report (FIR) was registered on August 15 under the Official Secrets Act. It was registered on the complaint of the Home Secretary.

Former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were nominated in the report, while names of former principal secretary Azam Khan and former planning minister Asad Umar were also mentioned.

According to the report, action also will be taken against Azam Khan and Asad Umar after the authorities reached the conclusion that they were also involved in misusing the classified documents.

The FIR stated that the former prime minister and foreign minister distorted the facts of the diplomatic cipher. “A conspiracy was launched to misuse the contents of the cipher to fulfill nefarious purposes”, it added. It further stated that former premier and top diplomat endangered the state interests.

The report claimed that former prime minister asked Azam Khan – the then principal secretary – to “manipulate the contents of cipher”. “The former premier deliberately kept the copy of diplomatic cipher, which was sent to the PM office”, it added.