Judicial commission to record Musharraf’s statement in treason case

–SC orders setting up body to go to Dubai to record ex-dictator’s statement after he refuses to testify via Skype citing ‘ill health’

ISLAMABAD: The special court, hearing a high treason case against former military dictator Gen Pervez Musharraf, on Monday ordered the formation of a judicial commission which would go abroad to record the former president’s statement after he refused to testify via video link.

Musharraf has been out of Pakistan since March 2016 for ‘medical treatment’.

The former president’s lawyer told a special court bench comprising Justice Yawar Ali, Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Nazar Akbar seized with a high treason case initiated against Musharraf for suspending the Constitution on Nov 3, 2007 ─ an offence for which he was indicted on March 31, 2014 ─ that his client was unable to record his statement via video link since he is indisposed.

Justice Ali asked the lawyer whether Musharraf had been diagnosed with cancer, to which the counsel responded that the former military ruler had been diagnosed with heart problems.

“He says he is not a coward. He wishes to appear before the court himself and present the evidence in his defence,” the lawyer added.

Justice Yawar Ali deliberated whether the case could proceed in the absence of a statement recorded by Musharraf under Section 342 and asked the prosecution lawyer if it was possible to do so.

“The accused is in a foreign country right now. According to his lawyer, he is very ill,” Justice Ali noted.

“Pervez Musharraf’s previous record is before us,” the prosecution lawyer said. “He is not ready to record a statement via video link.”

“We are told that Pervez Musharraf cannot appear in court due to his illness,” the bench observed. “He wishes to record his statement in the treason case.”

Subsequently, the court decided to order the formation of a judicial commission that will travel abroad to record Musharraf’s statement in the case.

The members of the commission and its scope will be decided later, the bench maintained, adding that if anyone had objections, they could challenge the formation of the commission before the high court.

This is also Justice Ali’s last hearing of the case, as he will be retiring soon. Future case proceedings will either be heard by a new special court bench or by the high court.

The case was adjourned until Nov 14.