ISLAMABAD, DEC 17 , – Special court in Islamabad on Tuesday has sentenced former president and top military official Pervez Musharraf to death in high treason case.
According to details, a three-member bench headed by Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth announced the verdict that was reserved on December 5.
During the hearing, Justice Seth said that ex-president had violated the Constitution on November 3, 2007 by clamping the state of emergency.
Govt files plea in court to nominate more accused
Earlier today, the incumbent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) filed a plea in special court requesting to name more accused in high-level treason case.
The prosecutor lawyer said that the government party wants to nominate former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, Abdul Majeed Dogar, Zahid Hamid and ex-president Pervez Musharraf’s companions in the case.
Justice Shahid Kareem remarked that the court was due to record final arguments in the case today but new pleas are being submitted.
Meanwhile, Justice Nazar Akbar asked about the evidence against those named by the government as accused over which, the prosecutor said that investigation would be launched after filing of the petition.
IHC bars special court to pronounce reserved verdict
Islamabad High Court (IHC) had approved the interior ministry’s petition and barred the special court from pronouncing the reserved verdict against Musharraf. Chief Justice Athar Manallah stated that there were unique, unusual and unprecedented circumstances in the case.
It read that the federal government and the prosecution have an important role to play in the treason case. The federal government has full authority to appoint the prosecutor and the prosecution team. “The fair trial was also entitled to prosecution as well as the accused.”
The IHC’s written statement stated that the federal government only filed the complaint of emergency 2007 rather than the 1999 treachery. “This action further increased the burden of fair trial on the judiciary”.
In addition, the written decree stated that Musharraf could not be denied the right for defense despite being a fugitive.
Trial court had reserved its verdict of high treason case against the former president for announcement on Nov. 28. However, after IHC decision, it was postponed.
Treason case: Timeline
The ex-president is facing treason trial under Article 6 of the Constitution as well as Section 2 of the High Treason Act for imposing emergency in the country on November 3, 2007 that also resulted in suspension of 61 judges of the superior judiciary, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
On November 29, 2007, retired general Pervez Musharraf took oath as a civilian president and lifted the emergency, revoked the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) and restored a Constitution amended through presidential decrees on November 15, 2007.
On August 18, 2008, Pervez Musharraf resigned as president after a nine-year rule on the country. On July 22, 2009, Supreme Court had summoned him to defend his action regarding emergence while on July 31, 2009, the apex court had declared Musharraf‘s decision to impose an emergency and PCO as illegal and unconstitutional.
The ex-president refused to respond to the court and departed for United Kingdom. His companions launched a political party “All Pakistan Muslim League (APML)” and made him its chairman.
On March 23, 2013, Musharraf returned Pakistan on pre-homecoming protective bail for 10 days to participate in the general elections.
On April 8, 2013, SC had summoned ex-military ruler in the treason case and directed the interior ministry to include his name in the Exit Control List (ECL). On November 18, 2013, then Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry had established special court for the trial of Musharraf. However, on December 12, 2013, the tribunal called him for proceedings of treason case.
On March 30, 2014, the special court had indicted former president but on March 18, 2016, he left for Dubai to “seek medical treatment”. On May 11, 2016, special court had declared Musharraf an absconder as he did not return after getting getting bail in the treason case.
