Pakistan court to hold former Premier Khan’s trial behind closed doors

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - A Pakistani court announced Thursday that the trial of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his foreign minister will be held behind closed doors in a case that accuses them of exposing state secrets.

The announcement was made during the first hearing at a jail in the northeastern garrison city of Rawalpindi after Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were reindicted Wednesday in the case commonly known as the “cipher case,” according to court records.

But Thursday, the Federal Investigative Agency urged Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqar­nain​​​​​​​ to allow “in-camera” footage in the courtroom, which he accepted. Zulqar­nain ruled last month that the proceedings would continue at the Adiala Jail in an open court.

The court ruled before adjourning until Friday that the defendants’ families would be allowed to hear the proceedings.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) last month, declared the jail trial “null and void” but ruled that it is "unusual circumstances" and can be held, but proper procedure should be adopted.

Khan and Qureshi were initially indicted in October in the cipher case, which was declared illegal by the IHC following annulments of the trial on Nov.21.

The case is related to diplomatic communications between Washington and Islamabad, which Khan said was part of a US conspiracy to topple his government.

Khan, who served as prime minister of Pakistan from 2018 - 2022, lost a vote of confidence in parliament in April 2022, one year short of completing his term.

In August this year, he was sentenced by a trial court in Islamabad for concealing details and unlawfully selling state gifts he received as prime minister and consequently was barred from holding public office for five years by the Election Commission.

The IHC, however, suspended his sentence and ordered his release weeks later​​​​​​​