Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi have both been sentenced to ten years in prison in the cipher case.

Special court judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain announced the verdict verbally today at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, in the presence of both PTI leaders.

The judge has been hearing the case at Adiala Jail since last year.

Before pronouncing the decision, Judge Zulqarnain reminded the PTI leaders that their legal representatives would not be present in court and would be replaced by state lawyers.

The court also noted that Khan and Qureshi were given questions under 342. However, Qureshi said that because his lawyers are not there, they cannot record their statement.

Khan recorded his statement under Article 342.

According to journalist Saqib Bashir, “After recording Khan’s statement, the court inquired from the PTI founder, Where is the cipher? Upon which, Khan responded that, as I have mentioned in my statement, I don’t know where about the cipher. It was in my office.”

According to the journalist, the judge remarked, “Look at me, Khan Sahb and Qureshi Sahb; I am sentencing you both for ten years each.”

After announcing the verdict, the judge stands up from his chair and leaves the court. Upon which, Qureshi said his statement has not been recorded yet.

In the most recent hearing, conducted on Saturday, the judge decided to appoint state counsel to defend the PTI leaders after the defense lawyers failed to appear in court again.

According to the court ruling, Malik Abdul Rehman and Hazrat Younus were assigned to represent Khan and Qureshi, respectively, as state defense lawyers and to cross-examine prosecution witnesses.

In November of last year, when Khan and Qureshi challenged their indictment in the case, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) pronounced their prison trial "null and void" while permitting their intra-court appeals.

However, the federal cabinet once again accepted the idea of convening the prison trial of both politicians, and the trial proceeded.

As soon as the verdict was announced, Khan's replacement as PTI chairman, Gohar Ali Khan, asked party workers and supporters to remain calm and not to take the law into their own hands over the judgment.

"An effort is being made to shift our focus away from the elections; everyone will be held accountable on February 8," Gohar told reporters at the Islamabad High Court.

Speaking about the matter, Gohar stated that cases against the PTI chairman are being pursued without regard for the Constitution and the law. He further claimed that the judge hearing the case was asking questions on his own.

He further indicated that they will challenge the ruling, stating that the party believes in the high and supreme courts.

This is a developing story...

This article was first published in The Friday Times, Pakistan.