The anti-terrorist court in Islamabad on Wednesday directed the government to appoint a public prosecutor in the judges’ detention case against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf by May 18, after advocate Syed Tayyab excused himself from performing the role due to personal reasons.
During the hearing of the case, Judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi of the ATC also directed police to present a charge sheet against Musharraf by May 18.
The case is based on an FIR against the retired general registered in August 11, 2009 on the complaint of Chaudhry Mohammad Aslam Ghumman advocate.
He had asked the police to initiate legal proceedings against Musharraf for detaining over 60 judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, after proclamation of a state of emergency in the country on November 3, 2007.
The case is one of three against Musharraf in courts. He is also accused of involvement in a conspiracy to murder Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and over the 2006 killing of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Khan Bugti.
Musharraf returned to Pakistan in March after nearly four years of self-imposed exile.
Owing to his mother’s ill-health, Syed Muhammad Tayyab said the case might face delay. The prosecutor officially informed the chief commissioner of Islamabad.
Meanwhile, the Law Ministry received the letter of commissioner for the appointment of a new prosecutor.
Earlier, Musharraf’s counsel Rizwan Abbasi had withdrawn his power of attorney in the case. The hearing of the case is likely to be delayed until a new prosecutor is appointed.
The court adjourned the hearing until May 18.
