Treason case: FIA told to give Musharraf his enquiry report

A special court on Thursday ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to provide the investigation report to former president Pervez Musharraf by May 14 in the treason case.

A three-member bench of the special court headed by Justice Faisal Arab and comprising Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali Khan heard the treason case against the former dictator and accepted Musharraf’s counsel Barrister Farogh Naseem’s request for the provision of FIA’s enquiry report.

The special court had reserved its verdict over the defence counsel’s demand on April 28.

During yesterday’s proceedings, the court ordered the FIA to provide the relevant enquiry report to Musharraf and said that it is the legal responsibility of the prosecution to provide the investigation report and other relevant record to the defence lawyers.

During the last hearing, Barrister Nasim withdrew two petitions related to Section 6A of Special Court Act 1976. He submitted that section 6A of the Special Court Act1976 has expired and his petitions in this regard may be returned, adding that he would be presenting his reservations verbally.

At that moment, prosecutor Akram Sheikh said on objection that the defence counsel was on one hand taking back the petitions and on the other, continuing his arguments.

Barrister Nasim requested the court not to proceed further in the case until the court ruled handing over copy of the FIA report to him. He said he would finalise his future strategy in light of the court’s decision, adding that it should not be perceived that the trial proceeding were being delayed because of him.

Later, the court approved the withdrawal of petitions which stated that the law under which the accused was indicted was superseded by the 1981 Ordinance.