Former army chief: Govt given two weeks to reply to Ziauddin’s plea

Ziauddin is seeking a declaration that his removal upon Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf’s coup in October 1999 was illegal.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday put off for two weeks a petition by former chief of army staff Khawaja Ziauddin seeking a declaration that his removal upon Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf’s coup in October 1999 was illegal.

The court adjourned the hearing on the request of the government. A lawyer representing the government said that the Centre had taken up the matter and needed more time to file a reply.

The petitioner has asked the court also to order the government to return the properties seized from him upon his arrest and to issues him pension and retirement benefits.

Ziauddin was appointed army chief by the then president in October 1999, shortly before a coup led by Gen Musharraf deposed the government.

The petitioner said that he was put in solitary confinement for two years, dismissed from service, and deprived of his properties and his right to a pension. He said his cardiac condition worsened and he lost 75 pounds in jail.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2013.