Court seeks answers on Musharraf properties

Court asks as to how attorneys can defend ex-president after his becoming a proclaimed offender

ISLAMABAD: A special court on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to the joint secretary of Ministry of Interior for not submitting details of properties owned by former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

Carrying out treason trial of Musharraf for subverting the Constitution on November 2007, the special court on May 5 declared Musharraf a proclaimed offender and directed the interior ministry to advertise the court verdict.



In the show cause notice, the court directed the joint secretary “to explain his position as to why he should not be proceeded under Section 6(2) of the Criminal Law.” Under the said section the court may initiate contempt proceedings against the official if it found that his response was not satisfactory.

On Tuesday, when the special court resumed hearing the prosecution team informed the bench that the prosecution had conveyed the court’s orders to the Ministry of Interior at ‘proper time’.

However, when the joint secretary Dilshad Ahmed Babar was asked about the details, he failed to satisfy the bench and requested the court for more time to comply with the order.

The bench expressed concerns over the ‘sluggish attitude’ of Babar and observed that he assumed the charge of his post on May 25, 2016 but failed to comply with the court’s order.

“This time was sufficient to comply with the court’s order,” observed Justice Miankhel, who heads a three-judge bench. “The joint secretary is responsible for wasting the time of the court and the bench is left with no option but to put the official on notice,” he added.



The bench asked Babar to submit reply within seven days, adding that if he fails the law will take its own course.  While giving last opportunity to the prosecution team including interior ministry, the court directed it to submit list of all movable and immovable properties owned by Musharraf on July 19.

During the proceedings, the bench also raised a question before Gen Musharraf’s attorneys as to whether they could represent former military ruler despite the fact that he has become a fugitive of law.

Advocate Faisal, representing the former president, tried to defend his client but the bench stopped him and observed as to how he could defend a man who is a proclaimed offender.

However, Musharraf’s senior counsel Ahmed Raza Kasuri said if court thinks that the legal team of Musharraf has no right to defend him then court should pass an order in this regard.  The court later adjourned the matter till July 19.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2016.