Treason trial opens: No more exemptions, court tells Musharraf
Ex-military ruler skips hearing citing security threats.
Security was beefed up at the National Library on Tuesday morning during the hearing of treason trial of former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: ZAFAR ASLAM/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Dozens of Rangers personnel stood outside the National Library on Tuesday morning in the first palpable sign that the treason trial of former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was about to go ahead.
Inside the library’s auditorium where defence and prosecution teams had gathered before the special court, eagled-eyed security officials periodically changed positions.
Past the heavy containers at the entrance of the court, Musharraf’s legal counsel comprising about a dozen lawyers outnumbered the prosecution team.
Journalists meanwhile cast meaningful but anxious glances at the front door waiting for the moment when Musharraf would walk in.
With a seating capacity of about 2,000, the auditorium serving as the venue for the landmark trial hosted an audience of just under a hundred souls. But much to everyone’s disappointment, the former military ruler did not make an appearance.
The atmosphere in the courtroom was overly congenial, with judges and lawyers appearing relaxed and unaware of their station in life. Lawyers, for instance, were not up on their feet when addressing the bench; judges were mild-mannered and unaffected. Even the defence and prosecution teams showed amity, with Khalid Ranjha joking that the prosecution should have arranged for tea.
The proceedings commenced at 9:35 am, lasting 15 minutes, till the court went into recess to deliberate over preliminary objections raised by Musharraf’s counsel.
Former attorney general Anwar Mansoor argued the case on behalf of Musharraf and raised objections over the jurisdiction and constitution of the special court. However, the court said it will first address Musharraf’s absence. Soft spoken Justice Arab consulted with his colleagues Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali several times.
Upon the court’s query, Mansoor said he had not yet received a complaint sheet. The prosecutor informed the bench of the requirement to submit a complaint sheet to indict the accused. Mansoor begrudgingly received the sheet to supply it to Musharraf.
As per the court order, the charge sheet will be read out at the next date of hearing (January 1), when charges will be framed against Musharraf.
At the outset of the hearing, Mansoor said he could not confirm if Musharraf would make an appearance at the first hearing. The head of the three-judge special court, Justice Faisal Arab reminded him that treason is not a variable offence and the accused is required to appear in court.
The legal team told the court that Musharraf had to change his plans to appear in court due to severe threats.
The court gave him a “one-time exemption” and directed for foolproof security for the former leader on January 1, 2014, the next date of hearing.
The objection raised by Musharraf’s legal team on the function of the special court will also be taken up at the next hearing. Sharifuddin Pirzada, head of Musharraf’s legal team, was upset that the court did not give “sufficient time and decided to frame charges at a very early stage”.
Musharraf’s advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri argued that his client cannot appear before the court until “foolproof” security is provided and someone from the interior ministry takes responsibility for his safety.
They also objected to the appointment of prosecutor Akram Shaikh, who was not present in the court due to illness.
‘Security risk’
Rangers’ officials said on Tuesday that bomb squad members defused a five-kilogram explosive device and recovered weapons and ammunition planted on the route scheduled to be taken by Musharraf from his Chak Shahzad home to the special court.
Interestingly, the police claimed that Rangers found the explosives in a plastic bag, along with two detonators, two .30-bore pistols, and eight bullets outside the main gate of the National Institute of Health (NIH) en route to the court.
“At around 9:30 in the morning, Rangers pointed out the suspicious [looking] bag. Later, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was called to defuse the explosive,” said a police official.
The police suspect that Musharraf was the probable target. However, they said they were investigating the matter from every angle.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2013.
Dozens of Rangers personnel stood outside the National Library on Tuesday morning in the first palpable sign that the treason trial of former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was about to go ahead.
Inside the library’s auditorium where defence and prosecution teams had gathered before the special court, eagled-eyed security officials periodically changed positions.
Past the heavy containers at the entrance of the court, Musharraf’s legal counsel comprising about a dozen lawyers outnumbered the prosecution team.
Journalists meanwhile cast meaningful but anxious glances at the front door waiting for the moment when Musharraf would walk in.
With a seating capacity of about 2,000, the auditorium serving as the venue for the landmark trial hosted an audience of just under a hundred souls. But much to everyone’s disappointment, the former military ruler did not make an appearance.
The atmosphere in the courtroom was overly congenial, with judges and lawyers appearing relaxed and unaware of their station in life. Lawyers, for instance, were not up on their feet when addressing the bench; judges were mild-mannered and unaffected. Even the defence and prosecution teams showed amity, with Khalid Ranjha joking that the prosecution should have arranged for tea.
The proceedings commenced at 9:35 am, lasting 15 minutes, till the court went into recess to deliberate over preliminary objections raised by Musharraf’s counsel.
Former attorney general Anwar Mansoor argued the case on behalf of Musharraf and raised objections over the jurisdiction and constitution of the special court. However, the court said it will first address Musharraf’s absence. Soft spoken Justice Arab consulted with his colleagues Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali several times.
Upon the court’s query, Mansoor said he had not yet received a complaint sheet. The prosecutor informed the bench of the requirement to submit a complaint sheet to indict the accused. Mansoor begrudgingly received the sheet to supply it to Musharraf.
As per the court order, the charge sheet will be read out at the next date of hearing (January 1), when charges will be framed against Musharraf.
At the outset of the hearing, Mansoor said he could not confirm if Musharraf would make an appearance at the first hearing. The head of the three-judge special court, Justice Faisal Arab reminded him that treason is not a variable offence and the accused is required to appear in court.
The legal team told the court that Musharraf had to change his plans to appear in court due to severe threats.
The court gave him a “one-time exemption” and directed for foolproof security for the former leader on January 1, 2014, the next date of hearing.
The objection raised by Musharraf’s legal team on the function of the special court will also be taken up at the next hearing. Sharifuddin Pirzada, head of Musharraf’s legal team, was upset that the court did not give “sufficient time and decided to frame charges at a very early stage”.
Musharraf’s advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri argued that his client cannot appear before the court until “foolproof” security is provided and someone from the interior ministry takes responsibility for his safety.
They also objected to the appointment of prosecutor Akram Shaikh, who was not present in the court due to illness.
‘Security risk’
Rangers’ officials said on Tuesday that bomb squad members defused a five-kilogram explosive device and recovered weapons and ammunition planted on the route scheduled to be taken by Musharraf from his Chak Shahzad home to the special court.
Interestingly, the police claimed that Rangers found the explosives in a plastic bag, along with two detonators, two .30-bore pistols, and eight bullets outside the main gate of the National Institute of Health (NIH) en route to the court.
“At around 9:30 in the morning, Rangers pointed out the suspicious [looking] bag. Later, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was called to defuse the explosive,” said a police official.
The police suspect that Musharraf was the probable target. However, they said they were investigating the matter from every angle.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2013.