Former president Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad police has formed a four-member team to make sure former military ruler Pervez Musharraf appears before the special court hearing high treason charges against him tomorrow (Monday).
The team, led by SSP Mustansar Feroz, has been directed to take Musharraf in custody and produce him before the court if he is not willing to appear voluntarily.
The team has been formed in compliance with the special court orders to the Islamabad police chief to arrest the former president if he fails to show up during treason case proceedings.
Musharraf’s legal team has contested the possible enforced appearance, saying the former president faces a real threat from miscreants. Currently, Musharraf is admitted to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) for treatment.
This week, at least two federal ministers from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz advised defence authorities to discharge Musharraf for the ‘sake of the military hospital’s credibility’.
Meanwhile, a senior member of the former president’s legal team told The Express Tribune that they have started preparing for the treason trial.
“It is now obvious that Musharraf will be indicted and a trial will be concluded against him,” said another member of the team, who recently distanced himself from Musharraf’s party. “The special court has already established its writ by summoning Musharraf in the court along with his legal team,” he added.
The special court has rejected almost all of Musharraf’s applications and has set March 31 as the deadline for framing charges against him.
“Musharraf’s legal team will raise objections against the treason trial continuously,” revealed a close aide of the former president neither part of his legal team nor politically affiliated with him.
On the other hand, the prosecution has no objection if Musharraf is granted exemption after the framing of charges. According to prosecutors, the accused is not bound to appear before the court personally after the framing of charges and the trial can be concluded in his absence.
Zarin Musharraf shifted to ICU
According to media reports on Saturday, Musharraf’s mother, who has been in ill health for some time now, was shifted from Dubai to Sharjah’s W Wilson Hospital after her condition suddenly worsened. Musharraf had requested permission to visit his mother, Zarin Musharraf, in Dubai but his application was dismissed.
Doctors have said there is no update on her health yet but she is in the ICU. There is no confirmation as to which family member is taking care of her as Musharraf is in Islamabad facing the treason trial.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2014.
COMMENTS (33)
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@Waseem: your correct slogan is: Musharraf ZindaBhag
@excalibur: @khan765 If you think that Musharraf was a messiah against so-called corrupt system then what did he do to remove corruption? He made NAB in 1999 (already working as Ehtesab Bureau) and misused it to purchase the loyalties of corrupt people like Aftab Sherpao & Faisal Saleh Hayat whom he inducted as Ministers as his cabinet. The King’s Party ie, PMLQ was full of NAB-zadas who were swearing their loyalty to Musharraf in return for withdrawal of their cases. A large number of his cronies were allowed to contest elections of bogus degrees (eg, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Abda Hussain, Sumaira Malik etc) but nobody could dare point finger during his dictatorship. He deliberately led the energy crisis aggravate to make justification for LNG Scam since August2003 and Rental Power Scams since July2006. He tried to dole out Pakistan Steel Mills at less than 1/4th the price of its assets but was intercepted by the Supreme Court. Can you ever imagine that a retired General (ie, Grade22 Officer) can have net worth of More than Rs 4 Billion (including expensive luxury Apartment in central London and Million Dollar FCY accounts in UNB Bank UAE) upon retirement? Please stop being selective about your definition of corruption, honesty and rule of law!!
he is the best we have. Jeeye Musharraf!
I foresee another twist in Musharraf's Drama Series after escaping from Court in April 2013, undetonated bombs on his route every time Musharraf was to appear in Court, sudden illness, indefinite hospitalization, request for treatment abroad etc..... Then his large team of expensive lawyers tried to drag Army in this episode but failed. Then they tried to scandalize the judiciary but failed again. Every citizen is equal before the law. He must go to court and face the trial for high treason charge that has been levied against him!
even without conviction Musharraf was not not allowed to contest the election by justice Faisal Arab.....biased judiciary
Musharraf zinad bad!
This is an unbelievable circus. We have corrupt politicians, walking freely on the streets of Pakistan, politicians who have sucked the country dry, who have abused power, who have absused the law, who dont pay taxes, who have ill gotten wealth and lie with a straight face and the entire media has joined the circus, to somehow nail a person with impeccable integrity. What a sad state of affairs
Wait a minute, This con man has many other tricks up his sleeves. The next in the row is 'Mothers' illness?
Rex Minor
@Ch. Allah Daad: Have you not done allready.? Pakistan has had two types of leaders. 1) Forward looking . Jinnah, Ayub & Musharraf fall into this. The last two were forced into disgraceful retirement. The first one was denied treatment which was then available (TB) 2) Backward looking leaders. ZAB, Zia & Nawaz. Pakistan has lost a lot under them. Did they respect the law--i doubt it very much. Musharraf is a cornered animal. He walked into a trap. You can rejoice. By the way he freed the media so that you can enjoy the circus and be Brutus.
Can anyone doubt this trial is not for holding the supremacy of law but to satisfy the egos of political parties, judiciary and a part of media? Reading the comments of the people here make me very sad. At least public should be unbiased and speak the truth. Politicians and judiciary are a party to this trial, but should the public be a party too or should they speak honestly?
Musharraf's persecution at the hands of this kangaroo court is plain obvious. Army should do everything possible to protect its former chief and stand in the way of this farce of a trial.
@Careful reader: Respecting the court of law is nothing to be ashamed of. If he is innocent, he will be acquitted. You cannot frame a military general.
This coward army has to be arrested and produce to the court.He is playing cat and mouse game.
He should be dragged to the court by grabbing his hair
Mush is a lucky 70 years old with good health and a mother who is still alive. Instead of clearing himself quickly and attending his ailing mother he has been hiding and making every excuse under the sun like a coward baby. He can appear in the court hear the charges and request his way out of Pakistan. He cannot ans should not be allowed to fake his way out but only on a mercy case. The dictator cannot continue his old arrogant ways and get mercy from the court and country.
@Careful reader: Blames, charges and allegaions of any crime have no value until proven in courts. Many political leaders were called security risk but were not proved in courts. Musharaf should come to the court and fight charges against him as civilian political leaders have been doing before him. He should stand like a man and fight like a soldier, otherwise history will judge him as a coward.
I must confess that I find the goings-on in Pakistan more riveting than any soap opera on Star Plus. There is always something exciting happening every single day. The people of Pakistan will get bored once things quieten. Pakistan - The Land of Excitement!
Coward Commando's Drama Serial Title: Darta Varta Naeen .
A sad day when the only honest and sincere pakistani leader since the Quaid is charged with treason .
His appearance in court with dignity and accepting the court's authority will prove that no one is above law, otherwise we have to burn all books about equal justice.
His crimes on Kargil operation was big enough blunder to try him for treason why this thing is going on and on and not coming to a final decision.Is Musharraf bigger then Pakistani law, he did everything during their tenure to safeguard his interests and his foreign masters interests by sacrificing Pakistani interests.
The dictator should be made an example and the the nation needs to keep on supporting judiciary.
ET please have some honesty . Musharraf's wife is physically with his mother dont you know that ???????
@sabi: The list of all the Pakistani leaders, including the current PM & CM and former CJ, who should apologize to the nation is LONG & WIDE. But this is Pakistan meri jaan...yahan ka rule hay "Jis ki Laathi (Govt) us ki Bhens (Awam)"!!!!!
So be happy living like a Bhens and enjoy!!!!
@sabi: May God give his gracious mother health and peace..............but does she need him or does he need her ?
Somebody tell these stupid courts and stupid government that Musharraf is being guarded by Pak commandos. Police can't even enter the premises. Feel sorry for this nation where judiciary, govt and media are all sold out.
He should not go to a court which is biased and discriminatory from start no matter even if it endangers this anti poor feudo-cracy!
Funny isn't it, Nawaz Sharif will lose his govt second time cuz of Musharraf. Some people never learn. Long live Musharraf!!
As the great philosopher Gabbar Singh would say: "Ab aayega maza..."
This is the real litmus test for us whether we as Pakistanis are a civilized country or a banana republic succumbing to "hidden" pressure.
He should appear in the court face the charges submit detail apology and seek general pardon that is the the only way left.otherwise no guarantee!His mother needs him so hurry up.