News Analysis |
A special court resumed the proceedings of high treason case against the former military dictator Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday. The interior secretary informed the court that a letter was written to the Interpol for Musharraf’s repatriation, but Interpol officials had refused to issue a red warrant, saying that Interpol did not deal in political cases. The two-member bench led by Justice Yawer Ali then asked, “how can the court decide the case if Musharraf avoids turning up on the next hearing?”
Justice Yawer then asked the authorities to inform the court whether a statement from the former military dictator could be taken through a video link or not. He also directed the interior ministry to present the copy of the letter it had written to the Interpol.
Moreover, Akram Shaikh, who has been pursuing the case for last five years, submitted an application to the court saying he wanted to detach himself from the case. He also contended that the new government should decide whether to continue with the case or not. The court granted his plea.
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High Treason case Against Musharraf
General (retd) Musharraf is being tried for imposing emergency in 2007 and detaining the judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. A case was registered against him in 2013 and his name was placed in the Exit Control List (ECL) by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on the directives of the Sindh High Court (SHC). Later on, the Supreme Court of Pakistan allowed Musharraf to go abroad for his medical check-up and his name was removed from the ECL.
Moreover, the special court has declared Mr Musharraf an absconder, issued perpetual warrants of his arrest and commenced proceedings under Section 87, 88 CrPC for attachment of his properties on July 19, 2016.
Interior Ministry directed NADRA to block his NIC
The interior ministry has directed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to block the National Identity Card (NIC) and passport of the formerPresident Pervez Musharraf. A special court recently ordered the interior ministry to block Musharraf’s NIC.
Read more: Musharraf to face the court; interior ministry directs NADRA to block…
As the former President’s NIC has been blocked he won’t be able to leave the country or withdraw money from his bank accounts. “He will also be barred from sale and purchase of his properties in Pakistan and abroad,” said sources.
“Tell Musharraf to come to Pakistan,” CJP said
The Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on 7th June gave another opportunity to the former Army Chief Pervez Musharraf to return back to Pakistan and appear before the court. The CJP said that the former president Pervez Musharraf would not be arrested if he arrived in Pakistan to file his nomination papers for the upcoming general elections.
The CJP was hearing a petition filed by Musharraf on June 05, 2015, regarding alleged rejection of his nomination forms for the upcoming general elections. According to media reports, the former military ruler had filed his nomination papers to contest for a National Assembly seat – NA-250 Karachi (South).
But the returning officer rejected his papers on the grounds that he had held in abeyance and suspended the Constitution on Nov 3, 2007, detained and removed a number of superior court judges and publicly insulted then chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Pervez Musharraf argues that the emergency he declared in 2007 was not only his decision. “It is a matter of record that a number of politicians and members of the last and current national and provincial assemblies were consulted before imposing the emergency,” the lawyer of the former President has contended. But, later on, Mr. Musharraf decided not to come.
It is expected that the former president won’t come back to face the courts since he knows he is likely to get no favor from the courts.