Musharraf’s case: Lawyers seek two-week delay in hearing

Musharraf’s lawyers state that they are apprehensive that mobs in Red Zone pose a threat to people and the premises

ISLAMABAD:

A lawyer for former president Pervez Musharraf’s filed a petition in the special court on Monday to adjourn the ongoing treason trial for two weeks. The court is due to resume the hearing today (Tuesday) and Farogh Nasim has stated that the situation in the capital is ‘precarious’ due to the current political crisis.

The application stated that the Red Zone is so ‘choked’ due to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s sit-ins that access to the area – which contains parliament house, the diplomatic enclave and other key buildings – is not possible.

Musharraf’s lawyers stated that they are apprehensive that the mobs in the Red Zone pose a threat to people and the premises here. “The trial is not a routine case as it is the one and only case being heard by the special court,” the application states. “The repercussions and consequences attached to the case are very serious, requiring peace of mind not only for the case pre-petition but also for the travel to the court.”

The application alleged that the political situation cannot be controlled by anybody, least of all the court or the defendant.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2014.