Trying dead military dictators not possible, says LHC

Musharraf is already being tried in a Pindi court: CJ.

LAHORE: Proceedings cannot be initiated against former military dictators for abrogating the constitution because they are dead, said Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed on Thursday. The CJ made the remark while hearing a writ petition seeking direction that all military dictators be declared as traitors.

When the court resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, the CJ observed that the court could not initiate proceedings against former army chiefs – Yahya Khan, Ayub Khan and Ziaul Haq – because they have passed away. The petitioner then submitted that Pervez Musharraf was still alive and asked the court to start proceedings against him. Justice Saeed rejected the petitioner’s plea noting that a Rawalpindi court was already hearing a case against Musharraf.

The petition was then adjourned indefinitely.

The petition has been filed by Advocate Rana Ilmuddin Ghazi, who submitted that Sikandar Mirza, Yahya Khan, Ayub Khan, Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf had abrogated the constitution. He had requested the court to declare them traitors and to disqualify their accomplice politicians from holding any public office. Ghazi had also prayed that Musharraf’s party should not be allowed to register. If it was already registered, he said, then the registration should be set aside.