ISLAMABAD-
Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued stay orders against Nov 21 decision of a special court trying former president Pervez Musharraf for high treason, restraining the court from working further, private media reported.
In the Nov 21 decision, the court had ordered the federal government to add former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former federal minister Zahid Hamid and former chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar to the charge sheet as co-accused in the treason case.
All the three persons, who have served under the ex-military ruler, had challenged the orders in the LHC through a petition.
The counsels of the co-accused, appeared before IHC Chief Justice, Justice Athar Minallah, and argued that under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the accused has no right to ask for a joint trial with a co-accused. It is only the right of the prosecution to decide who to prosecute, they maintained.
The counsels added that the application filed by the accused was based on assumptions, as there was no concrete evidence on record that concluded that any other person had collaborated or abetted Musharraf in imposing emergency in 2007.
After hearing the argument, Justice Athar Minallah issued stay orders against the court’s Nov 21 ruling, and stopped it from working further. The hearing was adjourned till February 3rd.
Musharraf is facing high treason charges for suspending the constitution and imposing emergency rule in 2007.