An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Monday dismissed former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s petition against the use of video link to record American journalist and lobbyist Mark Seigel’s statement in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.
The court in its verdict announced that the recording of Seigel’s statement via video link was justified.
Earlier, while presenting his arguments, Musharraf’s counsel Barrister Farogh Naseem told the court that legal requirements were not fulfilled while recording the statement of the key prosecution witness. He requested the court to summon him to Pakistan for this purpose.
Prosecutor Khawaja Imtiaz informed that the accused raised no objection before Seigel’s testimony was recorded. The statement was recorded after three months of struggle, but Musharraf never objected to it, till it had happened.
While rejecting the former president’s petition, the ATC directed the concerned authorities to get another appointment from Siegel for cross-examination.
Subsequently, the case hearing was adjourned till December 2.
Seigel, a Washington lobbyist and a friend of late prime minister Benazir Bhutto, had cited security reasons for his refusal to appear in person to record his statement against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case.
While recording his testimony through video link from the United States on October 18, Mark Siegel claimed he was with Benazir Bhutto on September 25, 2007, when she had received a call from Musharraf “threatening her with dire consequences if she returned to Pakistan.”
Siegel had stated that Benazir sent him an important email after reaching Pakistan in which she had said “if something happens to her Musharraf should be held responsible”.
Musharraf has rejected Siegel’s statement and said that it was a pack of lies.