A special court bench led by Justice Faisal Arab will resume proceedings in the treason trial against General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on August 5.
The PML-N government is facing tough challenges in pursuing the case against the former military ruler. When the trial began in December 2013 under Article 6 of the Constitution, the defense team raised objections over the use of faulty investigation practices and requested the court to drop treasons charges against Musharraf.
Musharraf’s counsel, led by Farogh Nasim, has billed the case as a form of discrimination against an individual who is being targeted because of personnel vendetta.
Farogh Nasim said the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) had asked PM Nawaz Sharif to constitute an oversight body to ensure transparency in the investigation. However, no such panel had been developed. This is a clear deviation from the apex court’s decision, he said.
Investigation process
The deputy director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Khalid Rasool, who is a prosecution witness, has said that the recording of Musharraf’s November 3, 2007 speech have been obtained from PTV alongside other pertinent documents from the defence ministry, cabinet division and printing corporations. He added that the material has been handed over to the chief of the FIA investigation team Muhammad Khalid Qureshi.
A prominent witness of the case, deputy solicitor of law ministry Taj Umer has already testified. He presented 19 documents in court, including affidavits of new judges and evidence documenting orders to impose emergency rule on December 14, 2007. He also issued orders to prevent all judges — including former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry — from working.
Further delays
The former military ruler cannot leave the country after a five-judge bench of the apex court turned down his plea to overturn the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) June 12 verdict to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL) after the Eid vacations.
Musharraf had filed an application through his advocate on record Chaudhry Ahmad Nawaz to expedite the court’s decision on the matter.
“There is grave urgency in the matter since Musharraf’s mother is very ill and the petitioner is also in dire need of medical treatment which is not available in Pakistan”, the application said.
The Express Tribune has learnt that the case will now be heard in September.
Chaudhry Faisal Hussain, who is part of Musharraf’s counsel, pointed out that the court had fixed the government’s appeal against SHC verdict within a week on the AGP’s request. But the court had disregarded valid concerns and rejected the former military ruler’s plea.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 3rd, 2014.
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With the death of Bhutto by assasination, the relationinship with North Korea's nuclear program, ISI knowlage of Bin Laden in Attabade found by SEAL's after the raid and the FBI informant getting a ISI officer to admit the "those towers are coming down" while pointing to the World Trade Center caught on tape in a sting operation and delivered to a congressman, this trial shouild give final closure on these issues kept hidden by passed failed administrations. The previous war in 1999 between India and Pakistan did lead to many poor options that included an ISI general sentenced to eight years in prison for heroin funds which were about to be terminated by spraying a banned fungiscide "Agent Green" over the opium crop thus denighing billions of dollars funds to run covert ISI and other nations covert operation in the Balkans (KLA/Albanian mafia herion rings to Europe and the United States).
What trial? Lots of articles, lots of motions, but no testimony or anything remotely resembling a trial. It's apparent that your judicial establishment is afraid to determine his guilt/innocence so why not let him go? Better yet - start a REAL TRIAL and let the facts determine his guilt/innocence. Enough with the drama.
History will always remember Musharraf as a fighter who always kept Interest of.his country supreme. A through patriot miles above the current ruling lot.May Allah tala always have mercy on him.ameen
Get over with the treason trial. The executive has the authority to pardon. Live & let live. Pakistan has far bigger & complex problems than to waste time & money over a relic from the past.
This history of this country is that whoever does well for this country is defamed,insulted and abused here,. This land has been famous for producing crooks,mercenaries and thieves. Obviously they wouldn't want to support an honest and real visionary leader like Pervez Musharraf.
Pakistan can't afford the on going NOORA KUSHTEE .
"Musharraf’s counsel, led by Farogh Nasim, has billed the case as a form of discrimination against an individual who is being targeted because of personnel vendetta."
No question that it is personal vendetta the way that the 'trial' is being conducted. However. in the present scenario the days of this regime are numbered. Suroor palace is 5 hours away by aeroplane.