The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the parties concerned on the bail petition of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the cipher case. IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq issued a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and sought a response. The PTI chief’s lawyers have sought an early hearing of the petition. The chief justice said the procedure is there and it will be fixed by next Monday. On the other hand, the Official Secrets Act special court in Islamabad heard the case of Imran Khan’s WhatsApp phone call with his sons. The court heard the contempt of court petition against the Attock Jail superintendent.

  The PTI chairman’s lawyer Shiraz Ahmad Ranjha contended that the jail manual was wrongly interpreted as there was no restriction under the Official Secrets Act on having a prisoner speak over the phone. According to the Punjab Jail Rules, a convicted criminal cannot be allowed to speak to someone over the phone. But, Imran Khan is not a convict, he is under trial. Those prisoners under trial are being allowed to speak to their families for three years, Ranjha contended. The lawyer asked that if there was no legal restriction, why Imran Khan was not being allowed to talk to his sons over the phone. The lawyer once again requested the court for a meeting. The court sought an explanation from the Attock jail superintendent and adjourned the hearing of the case till September 28.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)