ISLAMABAD: A local court on Wednesday dismissed an application seeking issuance of red warrants for former president retired General Pervez Musharraf in the murder case of Lal Masjid cleric.

Additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) Pervaizul Qadir Memon dismissed the application filed by Haroon Rashid, the son of the deceased cleric.

Gen Musharraf has been facing charges of killing cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his mother Sahib Khatoon. Both died during a military operation on Lal Masjid in July 2007.

The court in its short order observed that it was the prerogative of the investigation agency to take measures for issuing of red warrants.

ADSJ Memon referred an application to the district and sessions judge filed by the counsel for Gen Musharraf to quash the trial proceedings in the said murder case.

The counsel was of the view that since the military operation on Lal Masjid was carried out on the request of Islamabad administration therefore Gen Musharraf being President of the country in 2007 was not responsible for any loss of life in that operation.

Since the counsel for Gen Musharraf seeking transfer or the case to another judge, ADSJ Memon referred the matter to the district and sessions judge for making a decision on the request of the counsel.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2017