General (R) Pervaiz Musharaf in serious trouble
Shares
*ISLAMABAD: *A special court on Thursday hearing the high treason case against former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf ordered the government to arrest and seize properties of Gen (r) Musharraf.
The hearing resumed today after a gap of nine months.
A three-member bench led by Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Yahyah Afridi is conducting the hearing on the imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in the country in 2007.
The chief commissioner, inspector general and additional IG of police in Islamabad have been directed to arrange “foolproof security arrangements” for the former military dictator.
As the hearing went underway, the interior ministry submitted a report on Musharraf’s properties, stating that four out of seven properties are owned by the former president and army chief.
Moreover, senior lawyer Farogh Naseem excused himself from Musharraf’s legal representation, after which Faisal Chaudhry appeared to represent the former president.
Prosecutor Akram Sheikh, presenting arguments, pressed the court to order Musharraf’s arrest and production in court. The court then summoned officials of the Foreign Ministry in 30 minutes.
In April 2014, the special court formally charged Musharraf for imposing emergency rule in the country in 2007. The former president appeared before the three-judge bench, rejecting all charges against him.
According to the prosecution, March 31, 2014, marked the ‘first day’ of Musharraf’s trial as he was finally indicted.
On March 18, 2016, Musharraf flew to Dubai for medical treatment as soon as his name was removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) according to an order by the Supreme Court.
On May 11, 2016, the PHC declared former president Musharraf as the proclaimed offender (PO) in the high treason case.
In May 2017, Musharraf had expressed his willingness to face the trial under the army’s protection and on a surety from the court that he would be given a safe passage to return to Dubai.
