Shah Mahmood Qureshi is granted a four-day physical remand in the cipher case by a special court.

ISLAMABAD – Shah Mahmood Qureshi, vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been placed in the care of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for a four-day physical detention in connection with the cipher case.

The remand was ordered by a special court in Islamabad that was formed on Monday to consider cases brought under the Official Secrets Act.

The former minister was detained by the FIA on Saturday in connection with the cipher case, and today (Tuesday), he appeared before the special court.

Judge Abul Hasnat of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) heard the case brought up against Qureshi under the Official Secrets Act.

The FIA prosecutor requested a 13-day physical detention of Qureshi in order to locate the lost cipher. Qureshi’s attorney, Shoaib Shaheen, disagreed with the FIA’s proposal.

The court listened to the arguments, delayed rendering a decision, and then gave the FIA authorities until Friday, August 25, to bring Qureshi before the court.

The judge issued an order for all unauthorized individuals to vacate the courtroom before the commencement of the closed-door hearings.

The judge declared, “It is a matter of the Official Secrets Act, and irrelevant people should leave.”

Outside of the courthouse, a sizable police presence from Islamabad was present.

The PTI’s younger attorneys were told to leave the courtroom, but Shoaib Shaheen, Intizar Panjotha, Gohar Ali, and Ali Bukhari remained there.

According to the law, judicial proceedings will continue behind closed doors.