Treason trial: Key proceedings begin in lead-up to Musharraf’s possible arrest

Musharraf’s lawyers express concern about attempt to forcefully bring him before court.

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 20^th, 2014.