Ghazi murder case adjourned till 21st

Police unaware of whereabouts of the former president, Aabpara SHO tells court

ISLAMABAD: A sessions court on Tuesday adjourned hearing into Abdur Rasheed Ghazi murder case till May 21st.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Islamabad (west) Parvaizul Qadir Memon heard arguments on an application filed by Pervez Musharraf’s lawyer Malik Tahir Mehmood challenging non-bailable arrest warrants issued for his client in the case.



Mehmood questioned the prosecution’s insistence on appearance of former president before the court in the case. He said since Musharraf was abroad for medical treatment, and as a pleader he was authorised to represent him in the case.

The prosecution’s insistence on former president’s appearance in person was uncalled for, he argued.

“His non-appearance is not a problem,” said Mehmood.

The prosecution was not serious in taking the case forward, he added.

Musharraf’s counsel also questioned as to why the petitioner, Haroonur Rasheed Ghazi, had never appeared before the court.

“Musharraf is unable to attend the court proceedings. The pleader can continue the case,” he told the media outside the courtroom.

Tariq Asad, who represented the petitioner, said the former president was attending party meetings instead of undergoing treatment in Dubai and London.



“Non-bailable arrest warrants for Musharraf are a joke. Law should be applied equally to all. The court issued arrest warrants for Musharraf but he left the country. The law and the judiciary are being ridiculed,” he said in the court.

Former president’s lawyer said Asad resorted to emotional speech to pressurise the court.

Aabpara SHO, who was also present in the court, recorded his statement saying the police were unaware of the whereabouts of Musharraf.

He said the former president was not present at his Islamabad farmhouse.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2016.