Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain conducts the hearing of the case at Attock jail   

Former prime minister Imran Khan (left) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi (right). — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: A special court established under the Official Secrets Act on Tuesday extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and party’s vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi till October 10 in the cipher case.

Special court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain conducted the hearing of the case at Attock jail.

PTI counsels including Barrister Salman Safdar, Latif Khosa, Umer Niazi, and Naeem Panjutha appeared before the court. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team was also present in the court.

On the other hand, Qureshi was brought to the Federal Judicial Complex handcuffed by a FIA team where the court staff marked his attendance.

Later, the court extended his judicial remand till Oct 10.

Last month, the FIA booked the PTI chief and the party’s vice chairman under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly misplacing and misusing classified document for vested political interests.

“Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry 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 unauthorised 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.

Subsequently, both leaders were arrested in connection with the investigation into the case and a special court was established under the Official Secrets Act to try the accused.