The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a bail petition filed by former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the US cipher case for an indefinite time period. A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, heard the case. During the hearing, Imran’s lawyer Hamid Khan sought adjournment of the case’s hearing, saying only Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had given a verdict on an intra-court appeal filed by his client, and that he wanted to go through it. Accepting Hamid’s request, the apex court adjourned the hearing.  Two weeks ago, PTI Chairman Imran Khan had filed a plea in the Supreme Court, seeking post-arrest bail in the cipher case.

In his 18-page plea, the PTI chief said he wanted the Supreme Court to consider whether the court that had rejected his bail plea took into consideration that the cipher case was “politically motivated”. He also questioned the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) jurisdiction in the case and its “mala fide intentions and ulterior motives”.

The petitioner also wanted the top court to determine whether the Islamabad High Court (IHC) “failed to properly understand and appreciate that the petitioner as Prime Minister of Pakistan did not violate the Oath and also enjoyed ‘Immunity’ as provided under Article 248”. On October 27, the IHC had rejected the pleas of Imran, seeking bail and cancellation of the first information report (FIR) in the case. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq had pronounced the verdict which was reserved on October 16 after arguments were completed from both sides.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)