Special court orders re-investigation of Musharraf treason case

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  • Prosecutor Akram Shaikh says will challenge court’s order in federal high court
  • District court grants Musharraf attendance exemption in judges’ detention case

 

The three-member special court judging the high treason case against former military strongman General (r) Pervez Musharraf on Friday ordered a re-investigation of the case.

After sweeping into power in 2013, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) constituted a three-member special court to try General Musharraf for allegedly subverting the Constitution in November 2007.

Musharraf’s lawyer Farogh Nasim had asked the court that a broader joint investigation team must be constituted for the investigation of the case “as they don’t trust the federal government”.

The court asked the investigation team to submit its progress report in by December 17.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Akram Sheikh argued the federal government was the same for all; however, it was Musharraf who failed to cooperate with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) during the process of investigation, despite repeated notices.

“The federal government will file a review petition against Islamabad High Court’s verdict in this case,” Sheikh, said, adding, “FIA has refused to re-investigate the case for reasons that the agency’s dignity was not protected in the courts and comments were made against the investigation.”

In April 2014, the special court formally charged Musharraf for imposing emergency rule in the country in 2007. The former president appeared before the three-judge bench, rejecting all charges against him.

According to the prosecution, March 31, 2014 marked the ‘first day’ of Musharraf’s trial as he was finally indicted.

Musharraf granted exemption in Judges detention case:

Also on Friday, a district court exempted Musharraf from attendance in the judges’ detention case.

The judges’ detention case came up for hearing in the court of District and Sessions Judge Islamabad Sohail Ikram on Friday.

Advocate Muhammad Ilyas appeared on behalf of Pervez Musharraf, while special prosecutor Amir Nazir Tabish represented the prosecution.

Counsel for the former president requested the court to grant full exemption to his client from attendance in the court. He filed a medical report for Pervez Musharraf.

The court while accepting the plea for exemption in respect of former president adjourned the hearing of the case until December 11.