To avoid a retrial in the cipher case, the legal representatives of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi have surprisingly agreed to the cross-examination of key witnesses by state-appointed counsel. This shift contradicts the previous stance of the PTI legal team, which criticized the trial court’s haste in appointing state counsel and canceling the defense’s right to cross-examine witnesses. Barrister Salman Safdar, representing the PTI leaders, endorsed this change during a hearing before the Islamabad High Court. He argued that the case against Mr. Khan relied on hearsay, emphasizing that crucial evidence, including the cipher and related documents, lacked proper judicial validation. The court adjourned further proceedings, scheduled to resume on April 2.
