ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has asked the ministries of defence and law, cabinet and the army’s General Headquarters for the custody of the entire record related to the Nov 3, 2007 emergency imposed by military ruler Pervez Musharraf whose statement will be recorded on Dec 22.

According to a progress report submitted by an investigation team to the special court hearing a treason case against Mr Musharraf, this will be followed by questioning of his close aides, including incumbent federal minister Zahid Hamid, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz and former chief justice of Pakistan Abdul Hameed Dogar.

A joint investigation team, headed by former additional director general of FIA Mohammad Khalid Qureshi, formed in June 2013 that probed the matter till November had failed to obtain the record from GHQ despite repeated attempts.

Also read: New JIT to reopen Musharraf treason case

The FIA is seeking the record from GHQ because retired Gen Musharraf had said while proclaiming emergency that he had consulted the then premier, governors of all provinces, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee’s chairman, the armed forces’ chiefs, vice chief of the army staff and the corps commanders.

Musharraf willing to record statement on 22nd in treason case

The previous JIT said in its report submitted to the court on May 13, 2014: “The inquiry team made a number of attempts to obtain summary, notes and proposal, etc. concerning proclamation of emergency… However, despite the appointment of focal officer Mr Anzar Rizvi by ministry of defence no such document or relevant record was provided or shown to the inquiry team.”

The progress report submitted now says: “The secretary, ministry of defence, has been requested through a reminder letter to provide documents related to issuance of proclamation of emergency.”

It requested 30-day time for completing the investigation. “Keeping in view the progress, the investigation team requires more time to procure the important documents, as well as for recording statements.”

The four-member team, headed by the FIA’s Additional DG Wajid Zia, has sent letters to Mr Musharraf and his aides regarding the recording of their statements.

According to the report, the former army chief has expressed willingness to record his statement on Dec 22.

The investigators wanted to examine him on Dec 14, but his staff informed them that he would not be available on that date.

The team sought 30 days to complete investigation against the alleged abettors in the case.

It has also asked the law ministry and cabinet division to provide the “noting portion of the summary moved to the then prime minister of Pakistan on Nov 3, 2007 for appointment of Mr Abdul Hameed Dogar as Chief Justice of Pakistan, containing approval of the law minister”.

Mr Hamid, who was law minister at that time, is currently serving in the PML-N government’s cabinet.

The investigation team asked the law ministry to provide certified copies of the approved summaries for the appointment of the chief justices of the Peshawar and Sindh high courts.

The special court resumed the proceedings on Wednesday but its judge Justice Faisal Arab was not available because of his elevation to the Supreme Court and the remaining members, Justice Tahira Safdar of the Balochistan High Court and Justice Yawar Ali of Lahore High Court, adjourned the matter till Jan 13.

The court observed that the proceedings might resume on the next date if the government nominated a judge to fill the seat of Justice Arab.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2015