*ISLAMABAD: *A special court on Thursday hearing the high treason caseagainst former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf ordered thegovernment 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 YahyahAfridi is conducting the hearing on the imposition of extra-constitutionalemergency in the country in 2007.
The chief commissioner, inspector general and additional IG of police inIslamabad have been directed to arrange “foolproof security arrangements”for the former military dictator.
As the hearing went underway, the interior ministry submitted a report onMusharraf’s properties, stating that four out of seven properties are ownedby the former president and army chief.
Moreover, senior lawyer Farogh Naseem excused himself from Musharraf’slegal representation, after which Faisal Chaudhry appeared to represent theformer president.
Prosecutor Akram Sheikh, presenting arguments, pressed the court to orderMusharraf’s arrest and production in court. The court then summonedofficials of the Foreign Ministry in 30 minutes.
In April 2014, the special court formally charged Musharraf for imposingemergency rule in the country in 2007. The former president appeared beforethe three-judge bench, rejecting all charges against him.
According to the prosecution, March 31, 2014, marked the ‘first day’ ofMusharraf’s trial as he was finally indicted.
On March 18, 2016, Musharraf flew to Dubai for medical treatment as soon ashis name was removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) according to an orderby the Supreme Court.
On May 11, 2016, the PHC declared former president Musharraf as theproclaimed offender (PO) in the high treason case.
In May 2017, Musharraf had expressed his willingness to face the trialunder the army’s protection and on a surety from the court that he would begiven a safe passage to return to Dubai.