Cypher's case is one of more than 150 cases filed against Khan. Other charges range from contempt of court to terrorism and incitement to violence.
In the Cypher case, Khan allegedly brandished a secret document – a secret telegram – at a rally after his ouster. The document was not made public by the government or Khan's lawyers, but it appears to have been diplomatic correspondence between the Pakistani ambassador in Washington and the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad.
During the speech, Khan claimed that the document was proof that he had been threatened and that his overthrow was a US plot, allegedly carried out by the military and government of Pakistan. Washington and Pakistani officials have denied this allegation.
Khan's party asked its supporters to remain peaceful and not resort to violence, pending the resumption of the ruling through legal channels.
Omar Ayub, a long-time Khan supporter, said: “We have to harness these energies and channel them towards polling day” to ensure that Khan’s candidates win the vote “in an overwhelming majority”.
“PTI will continue its struggle to put Pakistan on the democratic path until the rule of law and the Constitution are ensured,” he said.
During the trial, PTI feared that Khan might be sentenced to death for treason. Khan insists on his innocence and says that he did not reveal the exact contents of the telegram. Qureshi was accused of manipulating the contents of a diplomatic cable for political gain.
Political analyst Muhammad Ali said that the final ruling is expected for both Khan and his deputy. Ali said that, in his opinion, the two men “actually damaged Pakistan's diplomatic relations with the United States and also caused embarrassment to the then Pakistani ambassador to the United States, Asad Majeed.”
AP
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