Observer Report
Lahore
Former president Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf on Saturday petitioned the LHC, challenging the verdict reserved by a special court in the high treason case against him.
Musharraf’s counsel, Khwaja Ahmed Tariq, approached the court on his client’s behalf, contending that the reserving of the verdict on Nov 19 was “unconstitutional and void”. It was pleaded that the impugned order from that date be suspended and that “the trial in absentia being conducted against the petitioner” be stayed until his physical appearance before the court.
Citing the “landmark judgment” in the Mustafa Impex, Karachi vs The Government of Pakistan case, the petition has called for the decision in that case to be enforced and the trial in Musharraf’s case to be re-initiated. Additionally, the petition has argued that the federation of Pakistan and the Federal Investigation Agency “be directed to conduct a proper and unbiased investigation including the names of all alleged aiders and abettors for the proper appreciation of facts and evidence at trial”.
It has also pleaded that the petitioner be granted his “constitutional right to a fair trial and audience in the instant trial” according to the law. Furthermore, it has contended that the section of the Criminal Law Amendments (Special Court) Act, 1976, which denies the accused an adjournment even on the grounds of illness, “be suspended and declared unconstitutional”.
