The Official Secrets Act special court summoned PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case on Tuesday.
The hearing was conducted on Thursday by special court judge Abil Hasnat Zulqarnain at Adiala Jail.
Qureshi's lawyer Ali Bukhari, and Khalid Yousuf appeared before the court.
The judge asked about the copy of the Islamabad High Court decision in the cipher case, which was provided by the court staff.
The judge remarked that the trial of the cipher case would now proceed from the position that prevailed before August 29. The judge issued the order.
The Official Secrets Act court will now hear the cipher case on November 28.
The special court judge later issued a two-page order.
The hearing of the cipher case was scheduled for today in Adiala Jail to record the prosecution evidence, the order said. It added that the Islamabad High Court declared the jail trial and the proceedings conducted after August 29 null and void.
The jail authorities should produce the PTI chairman and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in court for the next hearing on November 28.
Bail applications
On the other hand, the Anti-Terrorism Court of Islamabad adjourned the hearing of bail petitions of Imran Khan in three cases and Shah Mahmood in two till November 28 due to the non-availability of the investigating officer.
During the hearing in the court of Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, PTI lawyers Ali Bukhari and others appeared, while the prosecutor requested time to advance his arguments.
Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry said the court had ordered on the previous hearing that the decision would be announced today in any case.
The prosecutor asked for a date to extend arguments in the case, as the investigating officer was also on leave.
During the hearing on the two bail applications of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, lawyer Ali Bukhari said orders had been passed on their two applications, adding co-suspects have already been confirmed bail.
The court adjourned hearing on the bail applications of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood till November 28.
On November 21, the Islamabad High Court had declared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's jail trial in the cipher case null and void.
Also Read: Cipher case: IHC declares Imran’s jail trial null and void
A division bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Riffat, pronounced the reserved verdict on the intracourt appeal filed by former premier Khan.
Last week, the court halted trial court proceedings against the PTI chief while hearing his intra-court appeal.
In the verdict, the court stated that in exceptional circumstances, the trial can be done in jail, adding that according to the law, the trial can be conducted in a jail or open court.
It also added that the notification of August 29 for a jail trial in the cipher case was declared null and void.
"The notification issued after Cabinet approval on November 13 will not apply retroactively," it added.
However, the court also deemed the appointment of the Official Secrets Act special court judge hearing the case legal.
