Temporary reprieve: Pervez Musharraf gets interim bail till April 18

Judge asks former president to appear in person at the next hearing.

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday granted transitory bail to former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in cases relating to the detention of judges and imposition of emergency in 2007.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui granted him bail till April 18 against surety bonds of Rs500,000. The court directed the former president to appear at the next date of hearing and also to cooperate with police investigations whenever it was required.

Earlier, when Musharraf appeared before the IHC bench, his counsel requested the court to grant him bail, saying that the local police would arrest him in response to an FIR registered against him in 2009 for imposing the emergency and detaining over 60 judges in 2007.

The complaint was filed by Supreme Court lawyer Chaudhry Mohammad Aslam Ghumman.

Musharraf’s counsel, Advocate Qamar Afzal informed the court that on the direction of the judicial magistrate, the secretariat police had registered a case against him in 2009 which was based on mala fide intention. He argued that his client had returned to Pakistan to contest the elections however, the former government tried to defame him to prevent him from running for the polls.

Advocate Afzal maintained that the emergency was declared in 2007, but the FIR was registered in 2009 which indicated mala fide intentions of the complainant.

However, Justice Siddiqui questioned why he did not approach the sessions court which, he said, was the right platform to seek interim bail. Afzal replied that there were exceptional circumstances which made his client approach the IHC. The judge asked him to explain the circumstances which prevented Musharraf from approaching the sessions court.

Afzal explained that his client was also facing life threats, which is why he was unable to approach the sessions court for bail.

“I am granting you interim bail till April 18, but you have to argue at the next date of hearing whether your bail is maintainable in IHC or not,” remarked Justice Siddiqui.

Lawyers protest outside court

Many lawyers staged a protest outside the court against police and paramilitary Rangers personnel for preventing them from entering the court premises. They chanted slogans against Musharraf who was now getting foolproof security from the state, despite his attempt to subvert the constitution.

A scuffle also broke out between lawyers and supporters of All Pakistan Muslim League. Lawyers expressed concern over the heavy security presence at the court, including the building’s rooftop.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2013.