Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) top brass on Monday hailed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision to acquit Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the high-profile cipher case.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the short verdict, accepting the appeals of the former premier and diplomat against their convictions.
Despite this acquittal, Imran Khan is not expected to be released from prison due to his sentence in the Iddat case, which has been transferred to another judge. Meanwhile, Qureshi remains under arrest related to the May 9 cases, with his physical remand extended until June 5.
Addressing a press conference, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, accompanied by Ali Muhammad Khan and Shibli Faraz, expressed jubilation over the court’s decision.
Barrister Gohar declared, "Today is a happy day for Pakistan; the knowledge of justice has risen." He emphasized that the cipher case was fabricated and that the court’s decision reflected the truth, stating, "The fake cipher case has been closed today."
Shibli Faraz shared similar sentiments, describing the verdict as a "breath of fresh air" and a testament to the occasional triumph of justice in the country. He noted, "The founder of PTI always said that his cases are not forgiven. Constitution and justice want hearing."
Ali Muhammad Khan highlighted the broader implications of the acquittal, criticizing the political motivations behind the charges and questioning the integrity of those who had pursued them. "A case was made for revealing the secrets of PTI founder," he remarked, adding, "Now who will apologize to the founder of PTI and Shah Mahmood?"
The PTI leaders expressed hope for the future, with Barrister Gohar optimistically proclaiming that Imran Khan would soon be released from jail.
The party also took the opportunity to critique the current government, with Ali Muhammad Khan questioning the honesty of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the cipher case.
