Pervez Musharraf challenges court's decision in high treason case

ISLAMABAD: Former president Pervez Musharraf has filed a petition in Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging the special court’s decision to reserve its verdict of high treason case against him, ARY News reported on Saturday.

Musharraf in his petition said that the special court has reserved the judgment of the case on November 19 without hearing his stance.

The former president has made the federal government, Federal Ministry of Law and Justice, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Registrar Special Court parties in his petition.

“I am ailing and staying in foreign country for medical treatment,” the petitioner said.

“I could not be able to present my stance in the special court due to my illness,” he further said.

The former president pleaded for revision of the case as per the judgments of the Supreme Court and suspension of the special court’s decision about reserving the verdict in the high treason case against him.

Musharraf also sought the court order for postponement of the hearing of the case till he recovers to health.

He also sought the court to issue an order for constitution of an impartial medical board for him.

Special Court had reserved its verdict of high treason case against the former president on Tuesday, which is scheduled to be announced on November 28.

Former president Pervez Musharraf failed to appear before the court during the hearing of the case after going to Dubai for medical treatment in 2016. The judgment will be announced by the court after a one-sided hearing.

The hearing of the case was conducted by a three-member bench presided over by Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth.

Musharraf’s lawyer Raza Bashir did not show up before the court in the hearing as he was in Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah.

During the hearing, the court had remarked that Musharraf’s lawyers can submit their written arguments regarding the case till November 26.

He was booked in the treason case in December 2013 and was indicted for high treason by a special court in March 2014, but he left for Dubai in 2016 to “seek medical treatment” and has not returned since.

Charges Against Musharraf

The former president is accused of treason under Article 6 for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts.

The indictment comprises five charges cited imposition of Nov 3, 2007 emergency as one of the charges against Musharraf which led to the violation of Article 6 of the Constitution.

The indictment also included the deposition of superior court judges and the suspension of fundamental rights among the list of charges.