Travel restriction: SHC issues notices on Musharraf’s plea
Former military ruler’s counsel claims his client is implicated in false cases.
Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: FILE
QUETTA/KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday issued notices to the interior ministry and the Federal Investigation Agency and immigration authorities on former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s plea seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
An SHC bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Shahnawaz Tariq, also issued notice to the federal law officer to file comments by April 23, when the matter would be taken up.
Pervez Musharraf, who is currently in the city for medical treatment, has moved the court against the rejection of his request by the interior ministry to remove his name from the ECL. He named the interior secretary, DG FIA, its director for Sindh and additional director (Immigration) Quaid-e-Azam International Airport as respondents.
Musharraf’s attorney Barrister Farogh Naseem, said his client was implicated in false criminal cases relating to the detention of superior court judges after the 2007 emergency rule, and assassinations of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti and Lal Masjid operation in his absence.
He recalled that the SHC while extending by 21 days the transitory protective bail granted in the Benazir and Bugti assassination cases had observed that Musharraf would not leave the country without seeking permission from the trial court.
Meanwhile, he said, some busy bodies filed petitions in the Supreme Court seeking criminal proceedings against the former president under Article 6 of the Constitution. In order to preempt the proceedings, the respondents illegally and with mala fide intention put the petitioner’s name on the ECL on April 5, 2013.
Naseem contended that his client’s mother, who is in her 90’s, needs immediate medical attention and important decisions about her health have to be taken by him in consultation with the doctors.
After hearing the preliminary arguments,the bench, issued notices to the interior secretary, DG FIA, FIR Director for Sindh and Additional Director-Immigration Quaid-e-Azam International Airport. The judges also issued a notice to the deputy attorney general to file their comments by April 23.
Bugti murder case
Separately, anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta, dissatisfied over the absence of former military ruler, ordered Musharraf’s lawyer to ensure his presence for the next hearing of the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case scheduled for May 19.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2014.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday issued notices to the interior ministry and the Federal Investigation Agency and immigration authorities on former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s plea seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
An SHC bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Shahnawaz Tariq, also issued notice to the federal law officer to file comments by April 23, when the matter would be taken up.
Pervez Musharraf, who is currently in the city for medical treatment, has moved the court against the rejection of his request by the interior ministry to remove his name from the ECL. He named the interior secretary, DG FIA, its director for Sindh and additional director (Immigration) Quaid-e-Azam International Airport as respondents.
Musharraf’s attorney Barrister Farogh Naseem, said his client was implicated in false criminal cases relating to the detention of superior court judges after the 2007 emergency rule, and assassinations of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti and Lal Masjid operation in his absence.
He recalled that the SHC while extending by 21 days the transitory protective bail granted in the Benazir and Bugti assassination cases had observed that Musharraf would not leave the country without seeking permission from the trial court.
Meanwhile, he said, some busy bodies filed petitions in the Supreme Court seeking criminal proceedings against the former president under Article 6 of the Constitution. In order to preempt the proceedings, the respondents illegally and with mala fide intention put the petitioner’s name on the ECL on April 5, 2013.
Naseem contended that his client’s mother, who is in her 90’s, needs immediate medical attention and important decisions about her health have to be taken by him in consultation with the doctors.
After hearing the preliminary arguments,the bench, issued notices to the interior secretary, DG FIA, FIR Director for Sindh and Additional Director-Immigration Quaid-e-Azam International Airport. The judges also issued a notice to the deputy attorney general to file their comments by April 23.
Bugti murder case
Separately, anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta, dissatisfied over the absence of former military ruler, ordered Musharraf’s lawyer to ensure his presence for the next hearing of the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case scheduled for May 19.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2014.