Treason trial: Lawyer says Musharraf will appear in court today
Says his legal team has drafted a fiery speech for ex-army chief.
In this photograph taken on March 23, 2013 Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf leaves after a press conference in the Gulf emirate of Dubai. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
While the special court, constituted for high treason trial of former military strongman General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, is set to resume the hearing of the case today amid growing speculation, one of his lawyers claims ‘he will appear today (Tuesday) under protest with a fiery speech.’
“Non-appearance can put the former army chief in trouble, as the court can issue non-bailable arrest warrants,” he told The Express Tribune, adding that Musharraf’s legal wizards had drafted a speech for him, highlighting his concerns against the treason trial.
“Musharraf will address the court in a furious tone and will present the facts about the circumstances in which he decided to impose emergency with consultation of political and military leadership,” he said.
He said Musharraf’s team could not say anything about his health condition in definitive terms.
“But one thing is clear. If something happens to him, the state will be responsible for this loss as doctors have already suggested that he is tense and pressure can cause severe heart attack,” he added.
One of Musharraf’s senior lawyers, Anwar Mansoor, also said their client had not cancelled his plan and that he had pledged to appear before the court. At the last hearing, Mansoor had given his personal assurance to bring Musharraf on February 18.
The special court had alsogiven him a verbal assurance that it was not necessary that the accused be slapped with high treason charges on his first appearance as the court was yet to decide the question of its jurisdiction. Musharraf’s bail guarantor, Major General (retd) Rashid Qureshi was also directed to appear before the court on February 18.
The lawyer of Musharraf’s team said the former president would raise objections over court’s constitution and jurisdiction but in case the court decided to frame charges then they would block this move: by walking out or contesting the charges.
Ahmad Raza Kasuri –the chief coordinator of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and one of senior members of his legal team – said that today is ‘the day of surprise’ because his appearance will also be a surprise.
“In a meeting at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Musharraf assigned me the new responsibility and we also discussed about court appearance,” Kasuri said.
He did not deny when asked about a speech that was prepared for Musharraf to address the court on his first appearance.
Today Anwar Mansoor will continue his arguments against the constitution of the special court, while Khalid Ranjha, another member of Musharraf’s team, will continue his arguments on his petition that seeks transfer of this treason case to a military court.
The special court constituted to try Musharraf for promulgating emergency on November 3, 2007 observed on Wednesday that despite the unanswered question of the court’s jurisdiction, the former general must appear before the bench.
The court had adjourned the hearing till February 18, observing that the accused had already been directed to appear in court on the same date.
Musharraf’s legal team believes that charges will not be framed against their client if he appears today, as the three-judge bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab had assured them that the accused can seek adjournment until a decision on the court’s jurisdiction is made.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2014.
While the special court, constituted for high treason trial of former military strongman General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, is set to resume the hearing of the case today amid growing speculation, one of his lawyers claims ‘he will appear today (Tuesday) under protest with a fiery speech.’
“Non-appearance can put the former army chief in trouble, as the court can issue non-bailable arrest warrants,” he told The Express Tribune, adding that Musharraf’s legal wizards had drafted a speech for him, highlighting his concerns against the treason trial.
“Musharraf will address the court in a furious tone and will present the facts about the circumstances in which he decided to impose emergency with consultation of political and military leadership,” he said.
He said Musharraf’s team could not say anything about his health condition in definitive terms.
“But one thing is clear. If something happens to him, the state will be responsible for this loss as doctors have already suggested that he is tense and pressure can cause severe heart attack,” he added.
One of Musharraf’s senior lawyers, Anwar Mansoor, also said their client had not cancelled his plan and that he had pledged to appear before the court. At the last hearing, Mansoor had given his personal assurance to bring Musharraf on February 18.
The special court had alsogiven him a verbal assurance that it was not necessary that the accused be slapped with high treason charges on his first appearance as the court was yet to decide the question of its jurisdiction. Musharraf’s bail guarantor, Major General (retd) Rashid Qureshi was also directed to appear before the court on February 18.
The lawyer of Musharraf’s team said the former president would raise objections over court’s constitution and jurisdiction but in case the court decided to frame charges then they would block this move: by walking out or contesting the charges.
Ahmad Raza Kasuri –the chief coordinator of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and one of senior members of his legal team – said that today is ‘the day of surprise’ because his appearance will also be a surprise.
“In a meeting at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Musharraf assigned me the new responsibility and we also discussed about court appearance,” Kasuri said.
He did not deny when asked about a speech that was prepared for Musharraf to address the court on his first appearance.
Today Anwar Mansoor will continue his arguments against the constitution of the special court, while Khalid Ranjha, another member of Musharraf’s team, will continue his arguments on his petition that seeks transfer of this treason case to a military court.
The special court constituted to try Musharraf for promulgating emergency on November 3, 2007 observed on Wednesday that despite the unanswered question of the court’s jurisdiction, the former general must appear before the bench.
The court had adjourned the hearing till February 18, observing that the accused had already been directed to appear in court on the same date.
Musharraf’s legal team believes that charges will not be framed against their client if he appears today, as the three-judge bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab had assured them that the accused can seek adjournment until a decision on the court’s jurisdiction is made.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2014.