Imran, Qureshi's indictment in cipher case put off for a week.

RAWALPINDI -- The indictment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his party's Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case was deferred Tuesday, as a special court - established under the Official Secrets Act - adjourned the hearing till next week.

The hearing of the case was held at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi wherein the copies of challans submitted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against the PTI leaders were provided to the accused.

Special court judge, Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, who conducted the hearing, scheduled the indictment for the next week as the accused lawyers had refused to receive the copies of the challan during the last hearing.

The FIA special prosecutor, Shah Khawar, Khan, Qureshi and their legal teams were all present in the courtroom during the hearing.

During the last hearing on October 9, the court issued copies of challans (charge sheet) submitted by the FIA against the PTI leaders and shared them with the accused, while their date of indictment was fixed to take place on October 17 (today).

"The accused had refused to receive a copy of the challan at the previous hearing," the FIA special prosecutor said.

After the charges are framed, the evidence of the prosecution is recorded and the case trial begins. Subsequently, the testimonies and statements of the accused are recorded by the court.

Speaking with journalists outside the Adiala jail before the hearing, PTI chief's focal person on legal affairs, Umair Niazi, said that the copies of the challans were not provided in the previous hearing.

He also said...