The bail application of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cypher case was rejected by the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, who had reserved the verdict during the November 8 hearing, announced the decision. Under the Official Secrets Act, a special court indicted PTI Chief Imran Khan and Qureshi on October 23, both pleading not guilty.
The charges are related to the public disclosure of a classified cable sent by Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington, with Khan accused of making it public. The Federal Investigation Agency, on September 30, submitted a charge sheet, alleging Qureshi violated the Official Secrets Act by possessing a diplomatic cypher unlawfully.
Qureshi is also accused of aiding Khan, referencing his March 27, 2022, speech at an Islamabad rally where Khan presented a diplomatic cypher as evidence of an "international conspiracy" against his government.