ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: As the trial of former president Pervez Musharraf for ‘high treason’ is likely to commence during the current week, the defence side has announced their panel but the prosecution is waiting for the lead counsel Akram Sheikh who is abroad for eye treatment.

Unlike the defence side, which comprises eight senior lawyers, the prosecution is not vocal in announcing the names of the lawyers on their panel.

The eight-member panel which will defend the former president consists of Sharifuddin Pirzada, Dr Khalid Ranjha, Ilyas Siddiqui, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, Ibrahim Satti, Anwar Mansoor and Waqar Rana.

Senior lawyer Akram Sheikh will be heading the prosecution which, according to sources, comprised Barrister Sajeel Shahryar, Barrister Nataliya Kamal, Naseeruddin Khan Nayer, Sharjeel Adnan Sheikh and Chaudhry Hassan Maan.

Sources in the prosecution said their panel would formally be announced soon after advocate Sheikh returned to the country by tomorrow (Tuesday).

The filing of the complaint against Musharraf in the ‘high treason’ case has been delayed because of the absence of advocate Sheikh, the sources added.

Both the panels would further be divided for the trial in the special court and for dealing with the constitutional matters related to the ‘high treason’ case in the Supreme Court.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on November 19 approved the formation of the three-member special court for the trial of the former military ruler.

In a related development, a local lawyer challenged the constitution of the special court in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The IHC registrar office, however, raised objections on the petition saying the matter was sub judice before the Supreme Court and the lawyer should seek relief from the apex court.

The registrar office also objected that the petitioner was not an aggrieved person in the matter and could not challenge the special court.

In the petition, the lawyer contended that the selection of the judges for the special court was the prerogative of the prime minister but Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry picked the judges.

The petitioner maintained that the FIA did not investigate the matter in a proper manner rather left so many lacunas to benefit the accused.

The special court comprises Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court, Justice Tahira Safdar of Balochistan High Court and Justice Yawar Ali of Lahore High Court.