Musharraf trial: Prosecutor vows to take case to bitter end

Defence lawyers say they will prolong the trial.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has fulfilled his pledge not to withdraw the case against former president Pervez Musharraf and has asked me to pursue this case till its logical conclusion, public prosecutor Akram Sheikh told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.

“I’m happy with the progress of the case so far,” Sheikh said. “It was not easy to pursue such a controversial case, but I decided to take this responsibility after receiving solid assurance from the prime minister,” he said. “The Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) has initiated an inquiry against me for lower income this month than the previous year.” The prosecutor said he enjoys longstanding familial ties with the Sharifs.

A law ministry official submitted 20 documents related to the imposition of emergency rule as evidence on Tuesday before the three-judge special court led by Justice Faisal Arab. A member of Musharraf’s legal team told The Express Tribune that the trial will be prolonged as a conviction in this case cannot be overturned even by a presidential pardon. The lawyer said the defence will provide an extensive list of ‘abettors’’ names to the court to justify the argument that Musharraf did not take the step of imposing emergency rule of his own volition.

The treason trial has cost the exchequer Rs57.2 million, budget documents reveal. However, the actual cost of the trial could be much higher than this amount as more than Rs57 million has been requested by the Interior Division and the Law, Justice and Human Rights Division for the establishment of the special court and miscellaneous expenses, budget documents show.

Leading defence counsel Farogh Naseem was not present during Tuesday’s proceedings and his associate Shaukat Hayyat cross-examined FIA official Taj Umar, who presented documentary evidence against Musharraf. The evidence presented in court included attested gazette copies of the emergency order of 3rd November, 2007, and orders for the removal of judges, issued by Musharraf.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2014.