- ATC allows removal of PO tag from Musharraf, de-freezing of his assets
- Allows former COAS to meet lawyers
Former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday appeared before the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi to face Benazir Bhutto assassination case, while the Islamabad High Court heard a petition against Musharraf’s house detention and issued pre-admission notices to the chief commissioner and other respondents.
The ATC admitted three applications filed by Pervez Musharraf for regular hearing and issued notices to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). On the directions of the court, jail officials presented Musharraf before the trial court in a bullet-proof vehicle amidst tight security arrangements.
Barrister Salman Safdar, counsel of Musharaf, requested the court to remove Musharraf’s name from the list of proclaimed offender as he himself surrendered to the law and was ready for any investigation.
In his second application, he also requested the court to overturn the court’s order pertaining to seizure of Musharaf’s assets and freezing of his bank accounts. Thirdly, the counsel also prayed for granting permission for Musharraf to meet his lawyers.
The judge of special court took up the applications and accepted the request of removing Musharaf’s name from list of proclaimed offender and against seizure of his property for regular hearing and issued notices to FIA.
The court also sought reply from prosecution by May 3, while the court granted Musharraf permission to meet his lawyers and allowed him a 15-minute meeting with his lawyers inside the court premises.
The ATC also directed Musharraf to be part of investigation in Benazir Bhutto murder case.
During the course of hearing, hundreds of police official and Rangers kept the civilian, various litigants and media person away from proceedings.
Musharraf is accused of conspiracy to murder Benazir Bhutto, who died in a gun and suicide attack in December 2007.
In August 2010, the court had ordered the confiscation of Musharraf’s property and the freezing of his bank accounts in Pakistan as he did not appear before the court despite repeated notices.
Detention case in IHC
Meanwhile, a single bench of Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan while hearing a petition against declaring Musharaf’s farmhouse as sub-jail, issued pre-admission notice to the Islamabad chief commissioner, IGP, secretariat SHO and Shehzad Town SHO and adjoined hearing until May 29.
Ashraf Gujjar, the counsel for the petitioner, pleaded before the court that the chief commissioner illegally declared Musharraf’s residence a sub-jail.
He said the accused, who was facing very serious and heinous charges of terrorism could not be held at his house, instead he should be sent to regular jail.
Gujjar pleaded that approximately thousands other accused who are facing trial under Terrorism Act would also like to be kept at their residence as it had been done in the case of Musharraf.
“All the citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of law,” the petitioner said, requesting the court to declare the said notification null and void.
Musharraf escape case in IHC
A single IHC bench of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui ordered the Interior Ministry to proceeds against the Islamabad Inspector General Bani Amin for his failure to bar the escape of Pervez Musharraf from court premises. The court directed the Interior Ministry to submit a compliance report within 24 hours.
During the course of hearing, the learned judge remarked that the Islamabad IGP was lying, and a liar could not deliver.
After giving 24 hours to the Interior Ministry, the court adjourned the hearing until today (Wednesday).
Scuffle between lawyers and APML supporters
Despite a heavy police and paramilitary presence, scuffles broke out between lawyers and Musharraf’s supporters, who pelted stones at each other and openly used sticks, kicks and fist to thrash each other up.
The scuffles left dozens of people injured.
Initially police tried to stop both sides from fighting, but the situation went out of police’s control.
About 150 lawyers chanted humiliating slogans against Musharraf, while his supporters chanted slogans in favour of their leader.
After the incident, lawyers of the Rawalpindi District Bar announced strike for Wednesday. According to them, police was responsible for the lawyers getting beat up.
