The FIA joint investigation team recorded Musharraf’s statement last night. PHOTO: AFP
An Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday awarded four-day physical remand of former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case.
During the proceedings, FIA lawyer Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali asked ATC-I Special Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rahman for Musharraf’s physical remand so that he could be questioned in regard to former premier Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.
Musharraf’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar requested the court to award the former president judicial remand. The FIA prosecutor objected to this, saying that Musharraf has been declared a proclaimed offender and should be physically remanded.
Safdar also demanded the court change the head of the joint investigation team, Khalid Qureshi. He alleged that Qureshi was not an impartial investigator because he once briefed the Sindh Assembly in the Benazir Bhutto murder case despite not being authorised to do so. The court, however, rejected Safdar’s request.
After hearing both sides, the ATC awarded a four-day physical remand to the FIA and asked the agency to produce the former president before the court.
Later, while talking to the media, the FIA lawyer said that the agency was interrogating Musharraf on the basis of documentary proof, Mark Seagle’s statement and other available evidence.
“If security could be provided to former premier Shaukat Aziz and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain then why not to Benazir Bhutto? This shows Musharraf’s involvement [in the assassination case],” Ali said.
However, he added that given security threats, the former president will be interrogated at his Chak Shehzad residence, which has been declared a sub-jail.
Musharraf was formally arrested by the FIA on Thursday after the court directed investigators to include him in the probe into the 2007 assassination.
The FIA joint investigation team also recorded Musharraf’s statement last night.
Musharraf was driven in a motorcade from his residence to the ATC where over 500 Rangers personnel and hundreds of policemen were deployed.
Lawyers were peaceful and remained calm and none of them chanted slogans against the former dictator throughout the process.
“We did this to give a soft image of the legal community to the people. Some elements are denting the image of lawyers, which is unjust,” the District Bar Association president said. However, the police barred junior lawyers from entering the court premises.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2013.
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@Pro-Musharraf:
Yes, who cares of the constitution. If people are happy and living in peace that is what aam admi want. Judges who is following the constitution, have not reduce the people miseries. The terrorists are roaming freely, killing whoever they want, looting any bank they want. NOT one terrorists have been punished. What are the judges doing taking a huge salaries and huge perks and not doing their jobs. I hope Imran khan will kicked out of the good for nothing judges and others.
Hahaha. I feel like laughing. They blame musharraf for not providing security, however the taliban who actually DID kill benazir, they roam freely, and are killing more and more daily.
On the same grounds, isn't the PPP government, along with zardari responsible for the 1000's of people killed by TTP? Why no action against them? In fact, our dear ECP doesn't even allow free speech against them.
I was a fan of judiciary, but they are no different. This is all personal revenge.
Musharraf is our hero. YES we want more dictators like him. He might have thrown away the constitution, but WHO cares? We the 'aam awaam' DONT! He brought peace and prosperity.
Our prayers are with you!
Had she remained inside of the car, things could have been different. killings of high profilers were ttp,atleast they claimed it. I found him a stupid man if he s involved to have returned to the country.
What is a difference between physical and judicial remand?
This is absolutely ridiculous! How is this poor guy responsible for Benazir's murder of all the things? A journalist pointed out on twitter: 'If Musharraf is responsible for Benazir's murder, just because he was ruling the country then, does that mean Benazir was responsible for her brother, Murtaza's murder?'