The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) informed the court that they had received a secret message through email.
This message is currently held by the Foreign Office. The court emphasized the importance of having clear information, not just guesses. This is because nobody knows what was in the document that the accused misused.
The discussion in court revolved around an appeal against the conviction of Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a cipher case. Despite claims that the message aided the enemy, its actual contents remain a mystery. The court requested a report from the superintendent of Adiala Jail for the next hearing.
The chief justice expressed dissatisfaction over not receiving copies of the state counsel’s CVs and criticized the attorney general for not taking the court’s order seriously. They also inquired about the whereabouts of the original cipher, which the FIA prosecutor confirmed is still at the Foreign Office.
Barrister Salman Safdar clarified that the secret message was decoded and distributed by individuals appointed by the foreign secretary. He emphasized that neither Imran Khan nor the FIA had access to the secret code, casting doubt on how the system was compromised.
The court observed that neither the judges nor the prosecution had seen the actual message, underscoring the need for clarity. Barrister Safdar reiterated that the original cipher remains at the Foreign Office and criticized the FIR for misusing the term “cipher.”
The court emphasized the importance of understanding the legal basis of the trial court’s decision and expressed concern about not seeing the document in question. The appeals will continue, with the next session scheduled for Tuesday.