LHC rejects application for adjournment of Musharraf treason case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday rejected the application for adjournment of court proceedings to register a treason case against former President Pervez Musharraf.

This was the 17^th time the Advocate General had submitted a request for the adjournment of proceedings. Justice Azmat Saeed remarked that the case had already been adjourned 16 times on the petition filed by the Federation.

The hearing for the treason case has been formally initiated by the court, Justice Azmat said the government's reservations will be addressed but the case cannot be put off anymore.

The hearing for the case has been adjourned till March 29.

Advocate Rana Ilmuddin Ghazi, the petitioner, has accused Musharraf of various constitutional violations, including dissolving an elected parliament and sacking judges. He also made various accusations against Musharraf concerning the Lal Masjid operation in 2007, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s illegal nuclear technology sales, the assassinations of Bhutto and Baloch tribal chief Akbar Khan Bugti and the “kidnapping” of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. He asked the court to direct the federal govt to lodge a case against Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution and issue directions for his extradition and red warrants against him.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on March 8 ordered a case to be registered against Musharraf on charges of treason. Complainant Attahullah Shah had filed a petition in the court accusing the former president him of imposing emergency in the country on November 3 2007, without any concrete reason.

The petitioner also accused Musharraf of sacking and torturing senior judges of the courts.

He said Musharraf’s actions, resulted in abrogation of the constitution which is tantamount to treason.

Musharraf has also come under fire in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case. An Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi has thrice issued non-bailable warrants for Musharraf in the murder case. He is thought to be a key witness and an enabler of the plot to kill former prime minister Benzair Bhutto.

Pakistan has sought the Commonwealth’s cooperation and requested the UK Home Department to extradite Musharraf.