Musharraf trial: Govt told to submit amended complaint

Special court adjourns hearing till November 27

ISLAMABAD: A special court holding treason trial of former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf has further adjourned its hearing for one month after asking the federal government to submit an amended complaint in the case by incorporating names of Musharraf’s abettors.

The special court was formed in 2013 to hold Musharraf’s trial for allegedly subverting the Constitution in November 2007. After a number of hearings, the court had ordered the federal government to also include the names of Musharraf’s alleged abettors.

These alleged abettors – former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former chief justice Abdul Hamid Dogar and former law minister Zahid Hamid – later individually approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the special court’s verdict.

At the special court hearing on Monday, General Musharraf’s lawyer told Justice Faisal Arab – head of the three-judge bench – that the IHC had reserved judgment on the alleged abettors’ petitions. Justice Arab observed that the special court had not heard the case for the last ten months as it wanted to proceed against all the accused simultaneously.

Musharraf’s counsel also sought withdrawal of Musharraf’s surety bonds, arguing that the accused had made his appearance before the court. The court, however, did not entertain the application and cited the procedure. The lawyer later took back the petition.

The court later adjourned the hearing till November 27.

An official of the law ministry said the federal government had remained neutral throughout and allowed the process to delay.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2015.