Trouble for ex-military ruler: ATC judge indicts Musharraf in judges’ detention case

Public Prosecutor Amir Nadeem did not show up for ‘security reasons’.

ISLAMABAD:

An anti-terrorism court judge indicted former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in the judges’ detention case on Saturday. The Investigation Officer (IO) of the case, Mubarik Ali, read the charge sheet against the accused, who denied the allegation. 

Hearing the case at Musharraf’s farmhouse in Chak Shahzad, which has been turned into a sub-jail, ATC Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi directed the police to submit evidence and adjourned hearing till June 21. Public Prosecutor Amir Nadeem Tabish was, however, did not show up for ‘security reasons’.

Earlier the police submitted an incomplete challan (charge sheet) as they could not record statements of the judges who were detained after Musharraf promulgated emergency on November 7, 2007.

According to the challan, the military ruler imposed emergency and detained judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Fifteen lawyers have recorded their statements as witnesses against Musharraf.



The case is based on an FIR registered against Musharraf by the Secretariat police on August 11, 2009 for detaining judges. However, Musharraf has denied the allegations. Meanwhile, his attorney Ilyas Siddiqui submitted an application seeking his client’s release. Subsequently, the court issued notice to the state and adjourned the matter.

The main complainant has already withdrawn the case.  In this case the judges who were the direct victim of the emergency did not record their statements. Prosecution had earlier approached the Supreme Court registrar who did not give a positive response.

On June 11 the Islamabad High Court had granted Musharraf pre-arrest bail. On April 18, 2013 Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had rejected his bail application and he was arrested. Later Musharraf was shifted to his farmhouse after it was declared a sub-jail. The former president has also been arrested in Akbar Bugti murder case by the Balochistan police and sent on a two-week judicial remand.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2013.