PTI lawyers have arrived at the courtroom of Judge Raja Jawad Abbas, seeking bail for PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in connection with the cipher case. This development comes as the special court judge responsible for cases registered under the Official Secrets Act has taken a week-long leave.
Salman Safdar and Babar Awan, representing PTI, made an appearance before Judge Abbas on Monday, urging him to consider their bail applications for Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi due to the absence of the special court judge. However, Judge Abbas explained that while he could handle anti-terrorism court cases as a duty judge, he lacked the authority to hear cases related to the Official Secrets Act. He suggested that the PTI lawyers should file an application with the high court, which, if approved, would grant him the jurisdiction to entertain their bail pleas.
Judge Abbas clarified that he presided over administrative matters for 24 courts but stressed that the Official Secrets Act court was not within his purview. He emphasized that only the high court possessed the authority to designate him to oversee Official Secrets Act cases. Faced with this situation, PTI lawyers pleaded with the judge for assistance.
In response, Judge Abbas presented two options to the PTI lawyers: they could either approach the high court for a resolution or wait until September 9, when Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain would return to his duties. The situation escalated when PTI lawyer Salman Safdar requested a written statement from Judge Abbas confirming his lack of authority to hear their bail applications, a document they would use to seek the high court's intervention. Nevertheless, the prosecution team opposed this request.
In summary, PTI lawyers sought bail for Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case due to the special court judge's absence, but Judge Raja Jawad Abbas clarified that he lacked the jurisdiction to hear such cases. This prompted the PTI lawyers to consider alternative avenues for resolution, including approaching the high court or waiting for the special court judge's return. The legal proceedings remain complex, with the prosecution team contesting the PTI lawyers' requests