Treason case: Interim government refuses to act against Musharraf
Says it is not part of their mandate.
Musharraf was not permitted to meet his team of lawyers. PHOTO: REUTERS
The interim government refused to take any action against former president Pervez Musharraf, stating that it is not part of their mandate to do so, Express News reported on Monday.
Our mandate states that our first and foremost duty is to carry free and fair elections and provide security to the candidates, the interim government stated in its reply to the court regarding Musharraf's treason case.
“Now we know ministry of law and interior ministry does not want to do anything regarding the case,” the court remarked when representative of interim government explained its mandate.
The court asked Musharraf’s lawyer’s to meet their client and present his stance in the next hearing.
Earlier, in response to the court’s request for an opinion, the caretaker government said that it will abstain from giving any independent statement concerning Musharraf’s ongoing trial under Article 6 of the Constitution.
The interim government had decided to seek the court’s advice regarding any cooperation in the case, instead of taking a different stance.
The hearing for the treason case against Musharraf was adjourned till April 23.
Lawyers refused entry
Earlier during the day, Musharraf’s team of lawyers was refused entrance into his farmhouse which was declared a sub-jail.
Musharraf’s advocate, Ahmed Raza Kasuri addressed the media after the refusal.
“If we don’t speak to our client then how will we fight the case?” he questioned. "It is like going into a war without weapons."
“Maybe our client has reservations against this three bench court. Earlier, we had asked for a full bench court minus the CJP [Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry],” he further said in reference to the proceedings of the case. “We appreciate that the CJP stepped down graciously from the bench.”
Kasuri also expressed his apprehensions regarding Musharraf being tortured.
“We demand his [musharraf’s] thorough medical examination from the CMH [Combined Military Hospital],” he said.
“We were issued orders, by the court, to meet him and we reached the farm house on time but were not allowed by the superintendant posted at the main gate,” he said.
Meanwhile, a petitioner has challenged the notification declaring Musharraf’s farm house as sub-jail. He has requested to move the former president to Adiala jail.
According to the petitioner, the farm house cannot be considered a sub-jail.
Our mandate states that our first and foremost duty is to carry free and fair elections and provide security to the candidates, the interim government stated in its reply to the court regarding Musharraf's treason case.
“Now we know ministry of law and interior ministry does not want to do anything regarding the case,” the court remarked when representative of interim government explained its mandate.
The court asked Musharraf’s lawyer’s to meet their client and present his stance in the next hearing.
Earlier, in response to the court’s request for an opinion, the caretaker government said that it will abstain from giving any independent statement concerning Musharraf’s ongoing trial under Article 6 of the Constitution.
The interim government had decided to seek the court’s advice regarding any cooperation in the case, instead of taking a different stance.
The hearing for the treason case against Musharraf was adjourned till April 23.
Lawyers refused entry
Earlier during the day, Musharraf’s team of lawyers was refused entrance into his farmhouse which was declared a sub-jail.
Musharraf’s advocate, Ahmed Raza Kasuri addressed the media after the refusal.
“If we don’t speak to our client then how will we fight the case?” he questioned. "It is like going into a war without weapons."
“Maybe our client has reservations against this three bench court. Earlier, we had asked for a full bench court minus the CJP [Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry],” he further said in reference to the proceedings of the case. “We appreciate that the CJP stepped down graciously from the bench.”
Kasuri also expressed his apprehensions regarding Musharraf being tortured.
“We demand his [musharraf’s] thorough medical examination from the CMH [Combined Military Hospital],” he said.
“We were issued orders, by the court, to meet him and we reached the farm house on time but were not allowed by the superintendant posted at the main gate,” he said.
Meanwhile, a petitioner has challenged the notification declaring Musharraf’s farm house as sub-jail. He has requested to move the former president to Adiala jail.
According to the petitioner, the farm house cannot be considered a sub-jail.