Shah Mehmood Appeals for Special Court Summons to Arif Alvi:
Formar Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood has called for the special court conducting the chiper trial to bring president Dr Arif Alvi to the stand to clarify wheater he had approved amendment to the official Secrets Act 1923.
In the ongoing proceedings of the cipher trial at Adiala Jail, former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has formally requested the special court to summon President Dr. Arif Alvi.
President Alvi had previously stated in August that he had not endorsed any alterations to the Secrets Act and the Pakistan Army Act. However, the Law Ministry contradicted his statement, urging him to take responsibility for the purported changes.
Shah Mehmood Appeals for Special Court Summons:
The cipher case revolves around a diplomatic cable, alleged by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in their charge-sheet, which was never returned by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman.
Both the former Prime Minister and the ex-Foreign Minister were indicted on October 23. While their trial was in progress at Adiala Jail, the Islamabad High Court annulled the entire proceedings, deeming the government’s notification for the “jail trial” as “erroneous.
” At that point, four witnesses had testified, and the fifth was undergoing cross-examination.
Trail Would be Continue in Adiala Jail:
Court’s decision, the special court is now mandated to initiate a new trial. Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain ruled earlier this week that the trial would continue at Adiala Jail but in an open court.
However, during Saturday’s hearing, media professionals were restricted from entering the jail, permitting only three reporters from news television inside.
During the proceedings, counsels for both PTI leaders and their family members appeared before the court. The attendance of the two PTI chief whips was recorded, and the judge adjourned the hearing until December 4.
Trail was being Conducted Under the Original Secret Act 1923:
At the start of the proceedings, Qureshi inquired whether the trial was being conducted under the Original Secrets Act of 1923 or its amended version.
Asserting that the jail administration had violated court orders, he insisted that there were no security risks, citing his past practice of traveling alone in his car.
Labelling the case as baseless, Qureshi reminded the court that President Arif Alvi had expressed non-assent to the bills amending the Secrets Act.
Qureshi mentioned that renowned lawyers were ready to advocate for the PTI chief. In response, Judge Zulqarnain indicated that the objection had been addressed as “media and the public are present.
” Emphasizing the interconnected nature of the case, the judge assured Qureshi that no sections amended by Arif Alvi would apply to him, and the trial would proceed based on the merit of sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act.
