Prosecutors refuse to pursue treason case
Following the federal government’s reluctance to challenge the judgment issued by the special court last week, the prosecution team in former president Pervez Musharraf’s high treason trial has refused to pursue the case further, The Express Tribune has learnt.
According to sources privy to the development, the prosecutors have told the federal government that they had agreed to pursue the case against Musharraf only and that producing evidence against the former military ruler’s abettors ‘was not part of the deal’.
The special court on Friday had directed the government to include the names of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, ex-federal minister Zahid Hamid and former chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar in the case’s charge-sheet.
A source in the interior ministry and a member of government’s legal team said instead of challenging the special court’s order in the Supreme Court, the federal government is seriously considering filing a reference under article 186 of the Constitution before it. The reference will seek the top court’s opinion regarding the inclusion of Musharraf’s abettors in the high treason case.
The development was confirmed by Ikram Chaudhry, one of the prosecutors in the treason case.
On the other hand, a member of Musharraf’s defence team said the government and the prosecution team’s reaction confirmed the former president was solely being targeted in the case.
At the same time, other lawyers of Musharraf said in the aftermath of the special court order, the treason trial will not reach a conclusion during the PML-N government’s current term. They also claimed that a joint trial would be impossible in the absence of ex-premier Aziz, who is currently out of the country.
“The fate of this trial will be no different from the Agartala conspiracy case against Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman and the Hyderabad conspiracy case against Awami National Party’s Wali Khan,” said Advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri, a central leader of Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League. “In both cases, tribunals were unable to complete their proceedings and the judges hearing the charges ran away from court.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2014.
COMMENTS (29)
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@Asok:
"“Never forget Bangladesh”. Sure, OK. That is one genocide that should never be forgotten. Completely agree with you on that."
What is your stand on Sikhs and Kashmiris genocide done by India when they rebelled? Should they also never forget that?
nice post...
@Asad: @Rubab Farooqui: good points. Let's hope that Pakistan is some day free from the tangles of this holier-than-thou establishment.
@Golnath Agarwal: You are entitled to your view.
@Asok: Gujarat genocide of Muslims, Raping and killing of Nuns. Massacre of Sikhs. Why on earth are you poking your nose into others matters. Go to Delhi and look after the rape victims.
Thank Gen M for the free media...if all so called politicians & its supporters were so sincere in democracy, why they did not let a free media operate during their stint ? do they not know that the very foundation of democracy is free media ? give the devil its due. Reports of economic growth during Gen M period has been praised by WB / IMF & ADB & it is available on their website.
@all Come on guys... Just because his name is Asok, does not make him an Indian!
@Parvez: ONLY Musharraf's era showed prosperity. You should be thankful. Instead of trying a general who fought in 3 wars for you ungrateful pakistanis.
Government chickened out .... and sabotaged the process. Its a case of ' if all are guilty, then none are guilty '. The last thing Musharraf should do is celebrate.
@Rubab Farooqui: And the government says Dharna was a failure. The reasons PMLN told about Dharna were 1. Appointment of Intelligence Chief 2. Estb taking over foreign policy 3. Saving Musharaf 4. Stopping Chinese president visit to Pakistan
For a matter of fact Dharna was meant for these or not but has achieved all of these points ...
@Asok: by taking you guys from the neck, Musharraf realized you and your army that being bigger in size is not an advantage over Pakistan. That was a lesson sent to you guys that don't try another Bangladesh in shape of Baluchistan.
Also Kargil was a message sent to your Army in retaliation of Siachen area captured by your army violating the norms that both armies will back off in extreme winter season, and your army cheated Pakistan.
Unfortunately, it was NS who has soft corner for you people who was panicked and we had to back off.
@Tariq: Realistically speaking, the dharnas were arranged to get Musharraf free. The dharnas are now fizzling out since Musharraf is not being prosecuted anymore! Dharna agents Imran Khan & Tahir-ul-Qadri were/are simply the pawns of establishment to let it bargain with the government.
If the requirements of justice and equality are to be fulfilled according to law then every helper of Musharraf of November 2007's step must has to prosecuted and if not then definitely Nawaz Sharif is taking his personal revenge from Musharraf but in this regard Nawaz Sharif would never be succeeded Insha Allah Almighty....
this was one of the eventuality very much on the cards well done Farough Naseem as previously the other Lawyers of mushi was not up to the mark making his case weeker but naseem did well and handle the case perfectly and professionally full marks to him.
@Kamal "Musharraf was bad news for Indians". Maybe, but he was worse news for Pakistan. What did Kargil achieve of Pakistan? Nothing. What did his overthrowing the elected PM or dismissing the duly appointed CJP achieve for Pakistan? Nothing.
"Never forget Bangladesh". Sure, OK. That is one genocide that should never be forgotten. Completely agree with you on that.
If the politicians want the nation to believe that Army Chief's are traitors then they are living in a fools paradise. We support our forces whole heatedly and are not bothered by rotten politicians who are here just to make money and fill their bank accounts. If someone is in doubt he should see the respect given to our brave armed forces and to the so "selected" prime minister.
It seems the Government has made a deal with the establishment to let the case fizzle out. But Allah knows better.
Anything which an Indian criticises must be good for Pakistan. Musharraf was bad news for Indians, so his trial dissolution must be good for Pakistan. Never forget Bangladesh, Siachen, gross Indus Water Treaty violations, direct support for Baluchistan rebels, etc, etc.
Good news for Pakistan in times of dharnas etc. Plenty of other important issues faced by us that needs immediate attention by our government.. I guess money and time wasted on this useless trial but that's how things go here. Long live Pakistan!
Good for Pakistan. Musharraf did in best interest of Pakistan, while other prominent leaders in are doing in best interest of their families. Love you Musharraf, Allah be with you.
So who will respect the constitution; only the common men on the street
@Asok: Worry about your own problems. Stop pretending to understand anything about Pakistan.
Seems like the government has learned its lesson and backed off. Oh well! Democratic continuity lies in stability and performance, not in making examples of people.
great man, wish he was back as I will assure your he will make defecate as the millions do all over the place in India!
Anyone could see that there was no merit in the charges against Musharraf, and it was a politically motivated vendetta by Nawaz Sharif and former chief justice. All that has happened is that millions of rupees have been wasted in this useless exercise, and Pakistani tax payers should demand that Sharif and Chaudhry should foot this bill instead of the tax paying public.
Seems like everyone is afraid of prosecuting Musharraf - courts, govt, prosecutor all looking for anyway to avoid giving this man his day in court - and all looking for someone else to blame. This just contributes to the poor image of Pakistan judicial system - better off not arresting him in the first place.
A Great Leader. Nawaz Shariff is not going to achieve his goals against PM InshAllah.
Musharraf is wriggling out. Good for him. Bad for Pakistan, but good for him.