Imran Khan’s bail plea hearing in cipher case will be held in an open court on Oct 9

Imran Khan’s bail plea hearing in the cipher case will be held in an open court on Oct 9.

The development comes on Wednesday as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that the hearing on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s bail plea in the cipher case registered under the Official Secrets Act will take place in an open court.

The IHC announced its verdict that was reserved earlier this week on FIA’s plea seeking an in-camera hearing on the PTI chairman’s bail application in the cipher case.

The IHC in its verdict said that an open court hearing on the bail petition will be held on October 9.

However, the IHC said arguments by lawyers on documents regarded as sensitive will be heard in-camera.

On Monday, FIA appealed to the IHC for an in-camera hearing on Imran Khan’s bail plea in the cipher case as it is fearful that an open court hearing could harm Pakistan’s diplomatic ties with other states if the matter is discussed publicly.

FIA Special Prosecutor Shah Khawar told the court that under the Official Secrets Act, a trial cannot be made public, adding that they would move a similar plea in the trial court.

“There are some statements and information that cannot be made public,” he said, adding that they also have to place statements related to other countries before the court.

“Sharing such information in an open court can affect Pakistan’s diplomatic ties with other countries,” Khawar added.

However, the PTI chief’s lawyer Salman Safdar opposed the FIA’s plea for an in-camera hearing.

PTI chairman Imran Khan moved to IHC last month seeking post-arrest bail in the cipher case.