Special court partially okays trial of Musharraf's abettors

Published November 21, 2014
Police officers stand guard at the gate of the special court formed to try Pervez Musharraf for treason. — Reuters/File
Police officers stand guard at the gate of the special court formed to try Pervez Musharraf for treason. — Reuters/File

ISLAMABAD: The special court trying former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for treason has directed the federal government to resubmit its complaint in the treason case after including the names of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, federal minister Zahid Hamid who was law minister at the time and former chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar to the charge-sheet.

The order comes as the court disposed of a request filed by the retired general calling for the trial of abettors during the November 3 actions.

The move is likely to implicate a number of high profile civilians and armed personnel in the treason trial.

One of the judges, Justice Yawar Ali of Lahore High Court, attached a dissenting note while disposing off the petition.

Also read: Trying the king and his men

The court has directed the federal government to resubmit its complaint after including the names of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former law minister Zahid Hamid, former chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and other office holders at the time.

The court’s decision can be challenged by the federal government if it chooses to.

The decision is based on the original complaint filed by the federal government which had said that the role of other facilitators could be examined.

Musharraf had also demanded that the civilian leadership and the military authorities that allegedly abetted in the imposition of the November 3, 2007 emergency should also be tried along with him.

According to the proclamation issued for the November 3 emergency, Musharraf imposed the emergency after consulting the then prime minister, the governors of all four provinces and the chairman of joint chiefs of staff committee, the chiefs of the armed forces, the vice-chief of army staff and the corps commanders of the Pakistan Army.

Opinion

Editorial

Rushed legislation
Updated 06 Nov, 2024

Rushed legislation

For all its stress on "supremacy of parliament", the ruling coalition has wasted no opportunity to reiterate where its allegiances truly lie.
Jail reform policy
06 Nov, 2024

Jail reform policy

THE state is making a fresh attempt to improve conditions in Pakistan’s penitentiaries by developing a national...
BISP overhaul
06 Nov, 2024

BISP overhaul

IT has emerged that the spouses of over 28,500 Sindh government employees have been illicitly benefiting from BISP....
Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....