IHC asks counsel about Musharraf’s return plan

Assures complete security to former president; notes law about absconders pretty clear

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday asked counsel for the former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf to tell the court as to when his client is going to return to the country and face a special court holding the former military strongman’s trial in a high treason case.

A two-judge division bench, comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, heard the petition filed by Musharraf against constitution of a judicial commission by the special court for recording his statement.

During the course of proceedings, Justice Kayani directed Musharraf's lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar to inform the court as to when the former president is scheduled to return to the country. Justice Farooq said the law pertaining to an absconder is very much clear.



The court assured the defence counsel that his client would be provided complete security on his return. The counsel, however, sought more time for the purpose. The court accepted his request and adjourned the hearing till second week of December.

The last Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government formed a special court after coming into power in 2013 to try Musharraf for subverting the Constitution by imposing an emergency in Nov, 2007.

He was indicted in the case in March 2014 but left the country on March 18, 2016 for medical treatment in Dubai after his name was removed from the Exit Control List on order of the Supreme Court.

Since 2016, he has been staying abroad. A few months after his leaving Pakistan, he was declared a proclaimed offender by the special court, which also ordered confiscation of his property.