The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has invalidated Imran Khan's jail trial in the cipher case, following his intra-court appeal, as declared on Tuesday by a two-member division bench consisting of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Riffat Imtiaz.
The verdict was announced after being reserved earlier in the day. Justice Aurangzeb mentioned during the hearing that a brief order on the appeal would be disclosed today, with a detailed order to follow.
Imran Khan, currently in Adiala jail, had his trial suspended on November 14. The IHC's decision came after the caretaker federal cabinet approved Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi's jail trial in the cipher case.
Previously, Khan's appeal against the trial's rejection by the single bench was dismissed on October 16. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq directed him to address concerns in the trial court, leading to Khan's subsequent intra-court appeal.
In August, both Khan and Qureshi were charged under the Official Secrets Act 1923 in the cipher case, involving a missing diplomatic cable allegedly containing a U.S. threat to overthrow the PTI’s government. They are presently detained in Adiala jail.