We’ll produce evidence against abettors: Naseem

The ex-PCO Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar says he is ready to face the courts

ISLAMABAD: As the special court accepted former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s plea to include abettors in the treason trial, a key member of his legal team vowed on Friday to bring evidence against the co-accused in this case.

This move may implicate a number of high-profile civilians in the trial and the government will have to plead the case afresh against Musharraf under Article VI, legal experts say.

“Some 500-600 abettors are involved in this case. We’ll bring solid evidence against them,” Musharraf’s lead counsel Dr Farogh Naseem told The Express Tribune. He added that the case might not proceed until the key abettor, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, appeared before the court.

“It is the government’s responsibility to bring Aziz back to face the court,” Naseem said. “We cannot reveal the names of other abettors except for a few names mentioned in the judgment. It’s a part of our legal strategy.”

One of the co-accused, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid, who was the federal law minister on November 3, 2007 when emergency was proclaimed, stepped down on Friday. “Yes, he [Zahid Hamid] has resigned but the prime minister has yet to accept it [his resignation],” confirmed Federal Minister for Information Senator Pervaiz Rashid.

The Special Court judges in their 28-page judgment observed that it was the then prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, and his law minister Zahid Hamid who had prepared the summary for the removal of superior court judges under the PCO and Oath of Office (Judges) Order 2007.

The ex-PCO chief justice, Abdul Hameed Dogar, said he was ready to face the courts.

“Of course, I, after going through the Special Court’s order, will defend myself,” he told The Express Tribune. He said time would decide who was right and who was wrong. Dogar, however, did not answer whether he had taken the right decision while ratifying Gen Musharraf’s November 3, 2007 steps.

Ahmed Raza Kasuri, another counsel for Musharraf, said: “It’s an acquittal of former military chief. Treason trial case has come to its logical end today [Nov 21].”  “Why Musharraf alone? Why were not his abettors included?” Kasuri recalled when he put this question to the Supreme Court two years ago. “Better late than never,” he said.

Law expert SM Zafar termed the Special Court’s order partial success for Musharraf’s legal team and praised the judges for not going for ‘selective justice’ in this case. “The government will have to go for fresh exercise to file the case against Pervez Musharraf under Article VI.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2014.