Hearing in high treason case against Musharraf from March 8

ISLAMABAD: A special court will resume on March 8 hearing in the high treason case against former President Pervez Musharraf for imposing emergency rule on November 3, 2007.

The Special Court headed by Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Justice Yahya Afridi and comprising Justice Tahira Safdar And Justice Yawar Ali will resume hearing in the high treason case.

In this respect, registrar of the Special Court, established under Act XVII of 976, on Monday directed the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Inspector General of Police, ICT, and the AIG (Special Branch), ICT Islamabad, to put in place all the necessary security and other arrangements at the Federal Shariat Court, Islamabad and respective places where the judges will stay in the capital.

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.

Similarly, on May 12, 2016, the court had declared Musharaf an absconder for failing to appear despite multiple directions. The court declared Musharraf an absconder under Section 87 of Criminal Procedure Code and directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce him before it on July 12.

In May 2017, Musharraf 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. Muhammad Akram Sheikh, prosecutor and representing the federal government against the former president, had contended that the accused could not set conditions for his appearance before a court of law.

During the last hearing of the case, Musharraf's lawyer Akhtar Shah told the court that the government needs to ensure adequate security for Musharraf before he can return to the country.

In turn, the court had asked Akram Sheikh to respond to the defendant's request. In its response, the prosecution argued that because Musharraf had been declared an "absconder", he should be "legally barred from making any applications or submissions" to the court.

It further asserted that Musharraf "cannot dictate his prerequisites to the court and give conditions ... as to when he will appear and for how long."

It also pointed out that Musharraf had appeared before the court earlier without the strict security and protocol he had requested. The prosecution added that the "conduct" of the former president indicates that he has does not have "any desire to appear before the court."

Dismissing that Musharraf left the country on the pretext of a medical check-up, the prosecution maintained there is "no evidence of any hospitalisation" of the accused.

Akram Sheikh had submitted before the court that since the prosecution had presented the evidence and the trial has been completed, the court should announce the final decision in the matter at the earliest.