‘Worse than Adiala Jail’: Musharraf in ‘isolation’ at his plush farmhouse
APML spokesperson says ex-president not allowed to see his lawyers.
"The Punjab government will be held responsible if anything happens to Musharraf," says APML spokesperson Dr Muhammad Amjad.
ISLAMABAD:
Former army chief and president Pervez Musharraf is being held in ‘isolation’ in his luxury farmhouse in Chak Shahzad, confined to two rooms and stripped of his personal staff, a spokesperson for his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) party said on Sunday.
An anti-terrorism court remanded Musharraf in custody on Saturday for 14 days after his arrest over his decision to sack judges when he imposed emergency rule in November 2007.
The Adiala Jail staff took administrative control of the plush farmhouse after it was declared a sub-jail by the Islamabad chief commissioner at a request of the local police. The move saved the former president from the indignity and risk of going to prison.
However, APML spokesperson Dr Muhammad Amjad complained that Musharraf’s lawyers and staff were being denied access to him.
“He is isolated … he has been confined to just two rooms and all telephone and internet connections have been disconnected … he is being subjected to harsher conditions than those at Adiala Jail,” said Dr Amjad.
He added that Musharraf’s food was being prepared separately by the sub-jail authorities as well and could be easily manipulated as such. He warned that “the Punjab government will be held responsible if anything happens to Musharraf.”
Musharraf has also been barred from receiving any visitors, both family members and his lawyers. “How can he carry on his legal consultations if the authorities continue this attitude?” questioned Dr Amjad. “We have court hearings over the next three consecutive days. If he is not allowed to meet his lawyers, how will we fight his case?”
However, a senior Islamabad police officer said since the farmhouse has been declared a sub-jail, all prison rules would apply. “Jail rules permit visitors only at certain timings on specified days. According to the rules, Musharraf will be allowed to have visitors from today,” he added.
While Adiala Jail staff has administrative control of the farmhouse, according to the officer, Rangers and police commandos had been deployed alongside jail staff for protection.
Meanwhile, the Joint Investigation Team, comprising police, Intelligence Bureau and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) officials, is set to launch its probe into the judges’ detention case today (Monday). They will question the former president.
Lal Masjid cleric’s son to register case
Haroon Ghazi, the son of Lal Masjid deputy cleric Abdur Rashid Ghazi who was killed in the 2007 military operation, has decided to approach the court in order to register a murder case against Musharraf for the killings of his father and grandmother.
In a statement on Sunday, Haroon said he would file an application with the Islamabad sessions court on April 23, requesting it to order the Aabpara police station to register a case against Musharraf under section 302.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2013.
Former army chief and president Pervez Musharraf is being held in ‘isolation’ in his luxury farmhouse in Chak Shahzad, confined to two rooms and stripped of his personal staff, a spokesperson for his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) party said on Sunday.
An anti-terrorism court remanded Musharraf in custody on Saturday for 14 days after his arrest over his decision to sack judges when he imposed emergency rule in November 2007.
The Adiala Jail staff took administrative control of the plush farmhouse after it was declared a sub-jail by the Islamabad chief commissioner at a request of the local police. The move saved the former president from the indignity and risk of going to prison.
However, APML spokesperson Dr Muhammad Amjad complained that Musharraf’s lawyers and staff were being denied access to him.
“He is isolated … he has been confined to just two rooms and all telephone and internet connections have been disconnected … he is being subjected to harsher conditions than those at Adiala Jail,” said Dr Amjad.
He added that Musharraf’s food was being prepared separately by the sub-jail authorities as well and could be easily manipulated as such. He warned that “the Punjab government will be held responsible if anything happens to Musharraf.”
Musharraf has also been barred from receiving any visitors, both family members and his lawyers. “How can he carry on his legal consultations if the authorities continue this attitude?” questioned Dr Amjad. “We have court hearings over the next three consecutive days. If he is not allowed to meet his lawyers, how will we fight his case?”
However, a senior Islamabad police officer said since the farmhouse has been declared a sub-jail, all prison rules would apply. “Jail rules permit visitors only at certain timings on specified days. According to the rules, Musharraf will be allowed to have visitors from today,” he added.
While Adiala Jail staff has administrative control of the farmhouse, according to the officer, Rangers and police commandos had been deployed alongside jail staff for protection.
Meanwhile, the Joint Investigation Team, comprising police, Intelligence Bureau and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) officials, is set to launch its probe into the judges’ detention case today (Monday). They will question the former president.
Lal Masjid cleric’s son to register case
Haroon Ghazi, the son of Lal Masjid deputy cleric Abdur Rashid Ghazi who was killed in the 2007 military operation, has decided to approach the court in order to register a murder case against Musharraf for the killings of his father and grandmother.
In a statement on Sunday, Haroon said he would file an application with the Islamabad sessions court on April 23, requesting it to order the Aabpara police station to register a case against Musharraf under section 302.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2013.