Judges’ detention case: ATC discards Musharraf’s bail plea

Published May 22, 2013
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.— File photo
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.— File photo

ISLAMABAD: The anti-terrorist court in Islamabad on Wednesday discarded a bail plea filed by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in the judges' detention case, DawnNews reported.

Earlier today, ATC judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi had reserved the ruling on Musharraf's bail application during a hearing of the case.

During the hearing, public prosecutor Amir Nadeem Tabish said clause 780-A pertaining to terrorism had been added to the list of charges against Musharraf, making the case against him even more strong.

In his arguments, Tabish added that judges and their family members had been detained in their homes for months and that the charges against the former army strongman were of a serious nature, who therefore should not be granted bail.

He further said that the emergency imposed by Musharraf in the country on November 3, 2007 was detrimental not only towards the judges but for the public at large.

However, Musharraf's counsel, Ilyas Siddiqui, argued that there was no evidence against his client and requested the court to grant the bail application.

Tabish moreover told the judge that he had been appointed public prosecutor in the case only until the court's ruling on Musharraf's bail plea, adding that he had no authority to present a charge sheet in the case.

On which, the judge expressed his amazement and asked as to how it could be the case that one public prosecutor was appointed for Musharraf’s bail plea and another to present charges against him.

Subsequently, the judge inquired of the investigation officer as to when would the charge sheet against the former military ruler be finalised. Responding to which, the officer said that three institutions had been approached in this respect, however, all had so far failed to submit their responses.

The court reserved its ruling on the bail plea after the parties concluded their arguments and subsequently discarded the former president's application.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...
Anti-women state
Updated 25 Nov, 2024

Anti-women state

GLOBALLY, women are tormented by the worst tools of exploitation: rape, sexual abuse, GBV, IPV, and more are among...
IT sector concerns
25 Nov, 2024

IT sector concerns

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ambitious plan to increase Pakistan’s IT exports from $3.2bn to $25bn in the ...
Israel’s war crimes
25 Nov, 2024

Israel’s war crimes

WHILE some powerful states are shielding Israel from censure, the court of global opinion is quite clear: there is...