Share records with defence team, prosecutors told

Musharraf’s lawyer complains of missing testimony.

ISLAMABAD:

A special court hearing the high treason case against former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf directed the prosecution on Thursday to share with the defence counsel documents related to the FIA’s inquiry report.

The three-member bench, headed by Justice Faisal Arab, took up a fresh plea of Musharraf to reframe charges against him after obtaining the FIA team’s inquiry report from the complainant’s side.

Earlier, the defendant filed a separate application in the court for provision of relevant documents, including minutes of the 44th session of the National Assembly held on November 7, 2007, a list of cabinet members, including advisers and the attorney general of the federal government, governors, chief ministers, home and chief secretaries, inspectors-general of police, cabinet members and provincial legislators of all the four provinces, as well as a copy of the notification that replaced Gen Pervez Musharraf with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani as chief of army staff.

Shaukat Hayat, counsel for Musharraf, pointed out that though 25 witnesses recorded their statements according to the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report, the defendant was provided details of 24 witnesses. Hayat also said that he had not been provided a copy of the resolution passed by the National Assembly during the emergency.

Justice Arab observed that the defence can obtain the relevant documents. During the proceedings, Akram Sheikh, head of the prosecution team, stated that they had tried to provide all records of the case in view of the court’s order. Further details will be given within 24 hours.

Regarding the interior secretary’s appearance (the complainant of the case), who was present in the court, the court observed that his presence is not required till the next order.

The court later adjourned the hearing till May 23.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2014.