File photo of Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: FILE
The three member bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, adjourned the hearing for indefinite period. The case verdict will be announced later.
Earlier in April, the Supreme Court’s two member bench had raised the question that why had the federal government not taken action against former president Musharraf for violating the Constitution?
While clarifying the government’s stance, the attorney general had said that the interim government’s prime responsibility is to conduct free and fair elections. “[Government’s] reply may put a question mark on its partiality.”
Hence, the court had to wait until the new government was sworn in.
On June 24, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced that Musharraf will be tried for treason under Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan. He is accused of subverting the constitution twice.
Soon after the decision, the apex court had set a three-day deadline to finalise a mechanism for treason trial. The government’s top lawyer Munir A Malik then called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss the case.
Musharraf’s reservations
Following the Supreme Court’s hearing, Pervez Musharraf submitted a written response to the court on Thursday.
Musharraf, in his five page letter, said that he had no hopes of justice from the judiciary and impartiality from the government, considering that the present ruler of the state was directly affected by the incident of October 12, 1999.
In response to Musharraf’s letter, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja asked the former dictator to stay calm and said that the court will make sure the trial is fair.
Government takes action
The federal government formed a four member committee for the investigation of former President Pervez Musharraf’s treason case on Wednesday, Express News reported.
The Committee included two additional director generals FIA and two directors FIA.
It will commence its proceedings as soon as possible and will submit the report as soon as the investigation is complete.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Amin Fahim requested the government to start the investigation from October 12, 1999.
COMMENTS (25)
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@truthbetold: You mentioned the issues which already been solved, as per Shahbaz Sharif claim, they will resolve the issue of load shedding within 06 months so no need to worry. The other all issues are basically one issue which will be resolved by dialogue with Taaliban within the shortest possible time say two or three months. SO only left over issue is Musharraf High Treason which needs the full attention of our nation. Cheeeer.
@Aschraful Makhlooq:
"Leave Musharraf and focus on the other most important issues Pakistan is facing,for instance, 1-Energy crises, 2-Terrorism, 3-Conflicts with Taliban, 4-Target killings in Karachi and Quetta, 5-Drones’ strikes and 6-Insecurity in Pakistan…"
Every one of the six items you listed, Musharraf was the cause. He nurtured the terrorists, created the Taliban, got Pakistani involved in Afghanistan as part of his strategic depth game, started the Kargil war, gave support and shelter to terrorists such as Osama bin Laden, gave permission to drone attacks, neglected building conventional energy plants in his quest for more nukes......
Nawaz Shareef is on the old path of revenge and retaliation. Musharraf is a patriotic person more than any policitian in Pakistan. He must be freed immediately.
@wqw: Did I quote him being a non-punjabi anywhere? The point was that the people who supported him are now crying because when Article 6(2) will be applied all those heads will roll. If a certain community is supporting musharraf than that reflects upon that particular community. Do you mean that if a non-punjabi suspends and violates the constitution, it is fine? Then I guess Taliban should be denounced innocent since they are non-punjabis so should be Al Quida and so forth. Even the opposition parties voiced their support for application of article 6. No matter if heads from PTI and PML-N would also be rolled, but court should question all those merrymen who indemnified Musharraf on suspending the constitution twice and vowed to elect him 100 times in the uniform.
@Aysha M: Only Altaf Bhai should be elected as the 'rightful' leader of Pakistan, right?
If the convict him it the judiciary will be on trial. Justice must be done not scores settled.
If there is justice in Pakistan he will come out of it. But if is not then the world will see how unjust our judiciary is. You cannot pin him on Bugti case nor on Benazir case. Bugti lived by the sword and died by the sword. Which army of any state will spare someone who is fighting it? And the head of a state cannot be accused of murder. In case of Benazir you cannot accuse him of murder. He did not order it. It is the entire machinery. Why are they not able to catch any body in so many bomb blasts and murders. Why have they not arrested Zardari or Rahman Malik for all the people who have died in his tenure. Both cases are ridiculous. If they convict him it is Judiciary and Pakistan that will be defamed. It will do us no good in international image. We will be seen as a nation of vindictive people and revenge seekers at the expense of justice. If they want to try him he should be tried for his 1999 action. The coup took place on the ground while he was in air. Now Justice is on trial. God save Pakistan.
If there is justice in Pakistan he will come out of it. But if is not then the world will see how unjust our judiciary is. You cannot pin him on Bugti case nor on Benazir case. Bugti lived by the sword and died by the sword. Which army of any state will spare someone who is fighting it? And the head of a state cannot be accused of murder. In case of Benazir you cannot accuse him of murder. He did not order it. It is the entire machinery.
Why are they not able to catch any body in so many bomb blasts and murders. Why have they not arrested Zardari or Rahman Malik for all the people who have died in his tenure. Both cases are ridiculous. If they convict him it is Judiciary and Pakistan that will be defamed. It will do us no good in international image.
We will be seen as a nation of vindictive people and revenge seekers at the expense of justice. If they want to try him he should be tried for his 1999 action. The coup took place on the ground while he was in air. Now Justice is on trial. God save Pakistan.
Nawaz Sharif (NS), was part of the Martial Law of Zia, present CJ of SC was part of the October 1999 incident when NS wanted Pak army Chief to be handed over to India, and NS attacked SC; yet there is no trial for them. Musharraf is being victimized because he had been far better ruler than the present ones. Being honest, brave and honest person Musharraf for sure will pass through this ill-conceived plot with dignity - Inshallah and Aameen. Opponents will fall in the pit they have dug out for Musharraf.
This is a fake case of civilian dictator who cheated people'e will through rigged election & captured the high office in collaboration with well know collaborators His shallow morality is reflected in his past and he is no different from what he was in Zia's regime.
@Xnain: Brother i think you are not aware majority of legislators who validated his amendment are a part of NS team. So pick and choose, its biased! Frankly picking on him as he did something for this country and he is not a Punjabi will certainly alienate many and will hurt national fabric of this country denting nationalism this country has had! Two generals discriminated by this biased Punjabiostic judiciary because they are urdu speaking while all abettors of 1977 coup are currently advocating stance of fruits of democracy. My head lies in shame for this idiotic nation.
Plz leave following a good person This country does nt deserve u musharraf plz go back and enjoy ur own life,,,
The 1999 coup brought us relief from Money launderers, brought prosperity and local government. The 3 rd November action was to protect common people interests which was in threat due to the corrupt and inefficient people who were dancing on the foreign agenda. To me we had had good days then, now mourn this democracy, free Arsalan controlled judiciary and the past.
If President Musharraf is guilty of committing lese majesty, then he wasn't alone in this crime, let's execute him but not just him alone. Let's get all the rest of the gang who condoned, supported and idemnified or legitimized his acts. The constitution defines all of them equaly guilty and prescribes same punishment for them as well.
@Aysha M: Actually everybody was affected by Musharraf. The same MQM and Shaikh Rasheed who speak about applying it from Nov 1999 are the same parties who indemnified the first violation of constitution via 17th amendment and they were actively supported by the Mullahs of MMA. Why don't they tell this nation the truth that they were the partners in the first crime of Musharraf. Luckily he couldn't get the same indemnity from second assembly and thus now find himself on the crossroads. And even in today's speech MQM didn't support Mushrraf explicitly. Suffice to say that he was betrayed by those for whom he did most of his wrongs (PML-Q,MMA,MQM and Shaikh Rashid). History is otherwise what these people are saying today.
Nawaz and Iftikhar should resign to make sure that the trial is fair. Otherwise justice is never expected.
@AliKuliKhan: If both are aggrieved parties then who should be hearing the case? Army?
@AliKuliKhan: I agree with you; Socrates said" One who is injured ought not to return the injury, for on no account can it be right to do an injustice.
Both PM Nawaz Sharif and Chief Justice Chaudry should resign to develop confidence in the impartiality of the process undertaken. Both have been affected by the decisions taken by Musharraf, so they cant be considered impartial.
Pick and choose of accused, cases and dates of committed crimes reflect that Mr Musharraf should not hope for fair trial. Only one accused, only 3 Nov action is part of the political vengeance of Nawaz Sharif
Yeah right. As if...
When court give three days to government to reply than why not issue its vrtdict immediately, why reserve its verdict. Still I have not seen the detailed verdict of larger bench who heard the case of government against the CJ in 2007.
The PM and the Judges proceeding against the dictator are both aggrieved parties. There is no semblance of a fair trial in this case. Whatever the outcome, the PM and the Judiciary will get the proverbial egg on their collective faces. Where has the tradition gone where judges used to refuse hearing cases in which they had personal interest.