Musharraf’s lawyers express concern about attempt to forcefully bring him before court. DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD
ISLAMABAD:
The special court hearing the treason trial of Gen. (retd) Pervez Musharraf will resume proceedings from today (Thursday), beginning an important phase in the saga.
With an order issued for the appearance of former army chief on March 31, even if it means that the police has to arrest and produce him before the court, to be formally charged with high treason, the next few days will be critical for the defence team.
The court will take up some more applications by Musharraf starting today – one pertaining to a personal request to tend to his ailing mother in Dubai and another pertaining to the appointment of the public prosecutor in the case, Akram Sheikh.
Aside from these pending applications, Musharraf’s team is also considering challenging the special court’s directives from March 11 that the former army chief be arrested and presented if he doesn’t appear voluntarily on March 31.
One of his lawyers, Advocate Ahmad Raza Kasuri, when asked if Musharraf would comply with the order, replied simply: “This is a big question.” He added that a petition will be filed at ‘the relevant forum’ seeking a review of the March 11 order. “This is a purely politically motivated case with no legality involved in it,” he said.
Article six of the Constitution, prescribing capital punishment for those abrogating the Constitution, Kasuri says, is nothing but a sword of Damocles. “The use of force is not an option in this case,” he said, “Only wisdom is required to come out of this situation.” Kasuri added that Article six is ‘redundant’ in this case and its implementation ‘not a viable option’.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2014.
COMMENTS (12)
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Pakistan, The country where heroes are arrested and are called traitors,while the thieves rule the country and justify their ill actions in the name of democracy.
This whole case is a farce.
Long live Pervez Musharraf.
@Muneer: @Ahmed Sharif: Could you please provide the us the website supporting your claim. You have just re-written history to suit you, which is obnoxious.
Like watching a lousy soap opera - too much drama, not enough action.
Unlike the real criminals like Nawaz & Zardari booked for CORRUPTION cases , Musharraf is facing a Constitutional matter not Corruption per se and under a Kangaroo Court Please understand the difference
I cannot believe this Kasuri guy is actually an expert in Pakistan's constitution.
I dont know why Mush is asking to go to Dubai, He himself is "unwell" and it is very "risky" for him to travel, according to his personal physician. So he must ask his mom to travel to Pakistan to tend her ailing son. Isnt that correct ?
If under trail persons do not come to court voluntarily,they are arrested and forceable produced before court. High Treason is very serious charge.It is treason against the country. Let justice be done
The whole trial is a farce.... NS is willing to bend over backwards to appease the butchers who have done more damage to the country than anyone can imagine and yet can't pull himself out of personal vandetta against Musharraf. I always hear the argument that Musharraf is reaponsible for the state we are in by dragging us into someone else's war.... I struggle to see there was another option apart from what Pakistan did during the Afghnasian invasion or had there been anyone else in charge we would have acted differently! We are reaping what we sowed and still can't stand up and admit it is time for Pakistan to act on the bigotry, extremism and religious hatred.