Special court maintains decision to indict Musharraf on March 14
Musharraf's lawyer Anwar Mansoor says he is sick, Justice Arab replies that court proceedings will not stop.
Former president Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The special court maintained its decision to indict former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on March 14 while hearing the treason case on Thursday, Express News reported.
The three-member bench, led by Justice Faisal Arab, had directed the former president on March 11 to appear in person before the special court to hear the charges being read out against him.
The former president faces treason charges under Article 6 for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts.
The 70-year-old had fallen ill and taken to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi over three months ago where he is still under treatment.
Security threat
Spy agencies gave an in-camera briefing at the Sindh House in Islamabad to special court judges regarding security threats to the former president.
The court had decided to ask heads of the country’s top spy agencies to give a briefing over the authenticity of the threat alert issued by the interior ministry, which stated that there could be a possible attack on Musharraf by al Qaeda and TTP.
The heads of intelligence agencies, including the director-general of the ISI, briefed the court about its security alert that warned of militants lining up Musharraf convoy’s route from AFIC to special court premises in an attempt to target him.
Officials from the interior ministry were also present at the briefing.
Security plan
Musharraf's security plan for tomorrow's hearing was finalised today, Express News reported.
According to the security plan, three routes have been selected of which one will be taken by the former president to go to the special court on March 14 for the treason case.
Musharraf's security will have three components: 200 close security officers, 500 Rangers personnel and thirdly 2,000 police officers.
Health issues
During today's hearing, Musharraf's lawyer Anwar Mansoor told the special court that he suffered from food poisoning and there was no chance that he would recover and be able to present his arguments tomorrow.
Justice Arab replied that they cannot force him to present his arguments but the court would not stop proceedings for this reason.
Still out of court
For the second day this week, member of Musharraf's legal team Rana Ijaz Ahmed Khan was not allowed to enter the courtroom.
The court had asked security officials to cancel Ijaz’s entry pass for his contemptuous behaviour and derogatory remarks about special court judges during proceedings on March 11 when he had called the court a “slaughterhouse”.
Ijaz told the media today that it was his right to enter the court and defend his client, but he was not being allowed to do so.
The special court maintained its decision to indict former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on March 14 while hearing the treason case on Thursday, Express News reported.
The three-member bench, led by Justice Faisal Arab, had directed the former president on March 11 to appear in person before the special court to hear the charges being read out against him.
The former president faces treason charges under Article 6 for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts.
The 70-year-old had fallen ill and taken to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi over three months ago where he is still under treatment.
Security threat
Spy agencies gave an in-camera briefing at the Sindh House in Islamabad to special court judges regarding security threats to the former president.
The court had decided to ask heads of the country’s top spy agencies to give a briefing over the authenticity of the threat alert issued by the interior ministry, which stated that there could be a possible attack on Musharraf by al Qaeda and TTP.
The heads of intelligence agencies, including the director-general of the ISI, briefed the court about its security alert that warned of militants lining up Musharraf convoy’s route from AFIC to special court premises in an attempt to target him.
Officials from the interior ministry were also present at the briefing.
Security plan
Musharraf's security plan for tomorrow's hearing was finalised today, Express News reported.
According to the security plan, three routes have been selected of which one will be taken by the former president to go to the special court on March 14 for the treason case.
Musharraf's security will have three components: 200 close security officers, 500 Rangers personnel and thirdly 2,000 police officers.
Health issues
During today's hearing, Musharraf's lawyer Anwar Mansoor told the special court that he suffered from food poisoning and there was no chance that he would recover and be able to present his arguments tomorrow.
Justice Arab replied that they cannot force him to present his arguments but the court would not stop proceedings for this reason.
Still out of court
For the second day this week, member of Musharraf's legal team Rana Ijaz Ahmed Khan was not allowed to enter the courtroom.
The court had asked security officials to cancel Ijaz’s entry pass for his contemptuous behaviour and derogatory remarks about special court judges during proceedings on March 11 when he had called the court a “slaughterhouse”.
Ijaz told the media today that it was his right to enter the court and defend his client, but he was not being allowed to do so.