Musharraf trial: FIA investigation team testifies in special court
Prosecution witnesses to be cross-examined by the defence in the next hearing on August 5.
ISLAMABAD:
Additional Director of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and prosecution witness Khalid Rasool testified on Wednesday before a three-judge special court probing the treason case against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
Rasool informed the court that the director general of the FIA included him in the investigation team on November 19, 2013, which was set up to inquire details of the emergency declared by the former president on November 3, 2007.
He further added that he collected documents from the Ministry of Law and Justice, cabinet division, Printing Corporation of Pakistan and PTV and handed them over to the head of the FIA investigation team, Khalid Qureshi.
“I didn’t play any other role except handing over the documents to the investigation team,” said Rasool.
The prosecution witness will be cross-examined by the defence lawyer in the next hearing on August 5.
During the hearing, defence lawyers pleaded to the court to summon Khalid Qureshi and Maqsood ul Hassan as well as they were part of the investigation team. However, Justice Faisal Arab, heading the special court, said that a decision regarding this will be taken after conclusion of the cross-examination procedure.
Defence
Since the prosecution has submitted almost all documentary evidences against Musharraf, the scope is limited for the defence team to produce contrary documentary evidence, legal experts believe.
A member of the defence team told The Express Tribune that a long list of “abettors” would be submitted before the court after the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses. He added that there is evidence that Musharraf’s entire team, including the top brass of the armed forces, was on board the 2007 emergency rule.
Akram Sheikh, the prosecutor, says that if someone approaches the court and records their statement of being involved in the case, they could be treated as an abettor. Sheikh further said that documentary evidences are only available against Musharraf.
“Only court or prosecution can declare someone an abettor and it is an anomaly of defence team to consider witnesses as abettors," Khalid Azeem, a senior legal correspondent. He added that no one would dare come forward and record their statement.
“It is easy to establish that there is personnel enmity between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the accused (Musharraf),” said a defence lawyer. He added that this is a pure political case and it only can be won by political means.
The lawyer also said that a joint investigation team of the FIA was not given permission to see official records in the General Headquarters (GHQ). They even failed to record statements of top army officials who were involved in the emergency, he added.
The defence team is also preparing its case, arguing that in its present form, Article Six of the Constitution is not applicable for this treason case.
Additional Director of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and prosecution witness Khalid Rasool testified on Wednesday before a three-judge special court probing the treason case against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
Rasool informed the court that the director general of the FIA included him in the investigation team on November 19, 2013, which was set up to inquire details of the emergency declared by the former president on November 3, 2007.
He further added that he collected documents from the Ministry of Law and Justice, cabinet division, Printing Corporation of Pakistan and PTV and handed them over to the head of the FIA investigation team, Khalid Qureshi.
“I didn’t play any other role except handing over the documents to the investigation team,” said Rasool.
The prosecution witness will be cross-examined by the defence lawyer in the next hearing on August 5.
During the hearing, defence lawyers pleaded to the court to summon Khalid Qureshi and Maqsood ul Hassan as well as they were part of the investigation team. However, Justice Faisal Arab, heading the special court, said that a decision regarding this will be taken after conclusion of the cross-examination procedure.
Defence
Since the prosecution has submitted almost all documentary evidences against Musharraf, the scope is limited for the defence team to produce contrary documentary evidence, legal experts believe.
A member of the defence team told The Express Tribune that a long list of “abettors” would be submitted before the court after the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses. He added that there is evidence that Musharraf’s entire team, including the top brass of the armed forces, was on board the 2007 emergency rule.
Akram Sheikh, the prosecutor, says that if someone approaches the court and records their statement of being involved in the case, they could be treated as an abettor. Sheikh further said that documentary evidences are only available against Musharraf.
“Only court or prosecution can declare someone an abettor and it is an anomaly of defence team to consider witnesses as abettors," Khalid Azeem, a senior legal correspondent. He added that no one would dare come forward and record their statement.
“It is easy to establish that there is personnel enmity between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the accused (Musharraf),” said a defence lawyer. He added that this is a pure political case and it only can be won by political means.
The lawyer also said that a joint investigation team of the FIA was not given permission to see official records in the General Headquarters (GHQ). They even failed to record statements of top army officials who were involved in the emergency, he added.
The defence team is also preparing its case, arguing that in its present form, Article Six of the Constitution is not applicable for this treason case.