Former president Pervez Musharraf, who is already facing trial in three high-profile cases, may face two more murder cases, those of former Lal Masjid cleric Ghazi Abdur Rasheed and his mother, as the Islamabad High Court on Friday directed the Islamabad Police to register an FIR if there was cognisable offence. Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi resumed hearing into the case filed by Haroon Rasheed, son of Ghazi Abdul Rasheed.
In the petition, Haroon requested the court to direct the police to register an FIR against the former president on the charges of killing his father and grandmother.
The IHC ordered the police to record Haroon’s statement and register the FIR per law “if there may be a cognisable offence”. Besides other cases, Musharraf is already facing two murder cases – those of Akbar Bugti and Benazir Bhutto.
Musharraf’s counsel, Ilyas Siddiqui argued that there was no evidence that Musharraf had ordered the Lal Masjid operation and “if the petitioner has such evidence, he may produce it before the court”. The petitioner did not cite the then cabinet, federal ministers and prime minister as respondents.
“The Lal Masjid operation was carried out with the approval of the cabinet and if Musharraf had done anything wrong, parliament of that time could have impeached him under Article 47,” Musharraf’s counsel further argued.
The petitioner, Haroon through his counsel Tariq Asad, argued his father Ghazi Abdul Rasheed and grandmother Sahiba had been killed in the military operation having been ordered by the former president.
The Aabpara station house officer refused to register the FIR despite repeated requests. The petitioner further argued that according to the report of the Lal Masjid commission, the operation was carried out at the directives of Musharraf.
The petitioner contended before the court that his application under Section 22-A for registration of the FIR was dismissed by an additional session judge.
The petitioner prayed to the court to order the Abpara SHO to register the FIR. After issuing the order, the case was disposed of.
I won't be surprised if IHC judges start investigations themselves. These are a real stigma for independent judiciary.
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