Thursday, March 28, 2024

SC offers three options to Musharraf in treason case

SC offers three options to Musharraf in treason case
March 25, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday offered three options to former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf in the high treason case. A three-member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa heard high treason case against Musharraf. During the hearing, the chief justice expressed anger over non-appearance of the former president and rejected an adjournment request by Musharraf’s lawyer. The CJP issued three option for Musharraf – who is currently residing out of the country – may either appear before the court in the next hearing, record his statement in the trial via a video link, or have his lawyer Salman Safdar record the statement on his behalf. “It is better that Musharraf’s lawyer recorded statement in place of him. The former dictator shows fist and may be blow his blow to the court,” the CJP remarked. “The question is, if a suspect does not deliberately appear before the court then is the court totally helpless? If the law is silent on the matter then the Constitution gives powers to the Supreme Court to act,” the chief justice remarked. Giving the example of British dictator Oliver Cromwell case, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that the high treason trial was run against the ruler and he died during the trial but the court ordered to serve death penalty after his death as the skeleton of Oliver Cromwell was executed. The chief justice asked the federal government that what key progress for the return of former president. The government prosecutor apprised the SC that the Interpol denied to hand over Musharraf. The court further expressed hope that the special court will decide about matter regarding to further run the trial on March 28. “If the special court failed to do decide about the case then we will resolve the matter,” the CJP warned. Justice Yahya rescued himself from the bench to hear on next date and the case was adjourned till April 1.
High treason case: SC expresses anger at absence of Musharraf
In previous hearing, the SC expressed its anger at absence of former president Pervez Musharraf in the high treason case.  The court dismissed the plea seeking the delay in the case. During the hearing, Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa remarked that Musharraf used to show his fists. “Sometime he goes to hospital and sometime he goes abroad,” he said. He ordered Pervez Musharraf to either appear in court or record his statement via video link on the next date of hearing. The CJP remarked that no one is above the law. “The imposition of an emergency rule on Nov 3, 2007 will be tried at all costs,” he said.
High treason case
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had filed the treason case against Musharraf over the president's imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007.