Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has issued notices to military ruler General Pervez Musharraf’s collaborators in the imposition of emergency in 2007, taking into a decisive phase the investigation of a high treason case against Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution.
The agency has summoned for questioning former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, his principal secretary Khalid Saeed, former law secretary Justice (retd) Ajmal Mian and seven other top government functionaries, reliable sources told the Express Investigation Cell (EIC).
The said persons were as per official record “a party” to the November 3, 2007 emergency, sources said.
A joint investigation team will question Musharraf in the high treason case soon after Eid, they said.
After registering the treason case against Musharraf in June, PML-N government had constituted a four-member investigation committee to probe the case.
Through the notices FIA has directed Shaukat Aziz and other accomplices of the former army chief to appear before a joint investigation committee (JIC) for recording statements in the high treason case and for abrogating the Constitution by imposing emergency and subsequent detention of judges of the superior judiciary.
“We have served notices on all those government officials and politicians whose role has come into the light in November 3, 2007 emergency for appearance before the investigation team,” an FIA official told EIC on the condition of anonymity.
Since Shaukat Aziz’s postal address in Pakistan is not available, FIA has sent the notice to the High Commission in Britain via the Foreign Office for delivery to the former premier at his residence in London, the official said.
In a short comment, FIA director general Saud Mirza confirmed the issuance of a notice to Aziz. Aziz is unlikely to give any statement to FIA in high treason case, sources said.
After going through official record of the case, FIA decided to serve notices to all concerned. FIA team will question all officials who were on duty when the emergency was imposed to depose the senior judges of Pakistan.
The FIA team will also question all the four governors and chief ministers of 2007 to see if they were really consulted by Pervez Musharraf before imposing emergency in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2013.
COMMENTS (14)
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@zulfiqar: Now that Turkey has shown us how to treat military officials who think they are above the law, I hope the Pakistani courts sentence Musharraf and his collaborators to life in jail. Only this will warn future dictators that the nation's constitution is sacred and that the job of a general is not to attack its own capital and take over but defend the borders.
So law is being applied selectively, one incident is being investigated for high treason i.e Nov 3 and other incident of same kind is left alone i.e Oct 12. Probabelly that incident might bring allies of PML-N to limelight. Good move, where is Asghar Khan case? If Mian & co consider rule of law as paramount as they pretend, then why Asghar Khan case is not being persued? Justice delayed is Justice denied. This saying applies equally to both Musharraf and Asghar Khan cases.
@skhan:
Very correct.....
Who stormed the PM house? Who secured Karachi airport? Who gave order to mobilised troops in Islamabad on the day of the military coup?
It would be interesting to know what this Director General was doing on that particular day!
@muhammad khan:
Why investigate from and after Nov 3rd? Why not start from Oct 12th?
How and why Musharaf was President and army chief on Nov,3rd?This point should be investigated first.
Why and how Musharaf was President and Army chief on Nov 3rd? This point should be investigated.
First of all, the government should form an independent commission on Kargil conflict and ascertain who were responsible for the unnecessary adventure that costed the nation billions of rupees and 4000 precious lives of Jawans. The Gang of four should be made to pay for their sins.
I dont know when we would be able to look into the future instead of spoiling our precious resources on correcting history.
Learn from the history and move forward by improving systems and minimizing the loopholes for such actions in future.
They are all responsible as they were ally with General Musharraf, not only recording the statement but should be impartially investigated and brought to justice. Then move on to the so called hundreds of politicians sitting in current assembly and enjoying the govt!!
Did they sent the notices to current chief and than core commanders too?
The emergency was imposed by General Musharraf, not by a civilian...and the court granted him right to be General and President at the same time.