Supreme Court seeks cause of delay in trial against Pervez Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Registrar of the special court hearing case against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf over proclamation of emergency in the country, ARY News reported.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa today issued notice to the registrar of the special court seeking report on the cause of delay in hearing of the trial.

Justice Mazhar Alam and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah are other two members of the bench.

The bench was hearing a contempt petition filed by a lawyer on behalf of Lahore High Court Bar.

LHC bar had filed a petition for initiation of the high treason case under Article 6 of the Constitution.

The apex court ordered the registrar to submit report in the court within 15 days.

“If the accused is deliberately denying to appear (in the hearing) it must not handicap the court,” the chief justice remarked.

“The statement of the accused in court is a concession for him,” the top judge said.

An accused asked in his statement under Section 342 CrPC, if he is agreed or not with the witness accounts, the chief justice remarked.

If the accused not appearing in the hearing then the court should deem his reply in negative, Justice Khosa further said.

The counsel of Lahore Bar said in the hearing that the trial has been suspended due the stay of the defendant abroad.

The bench issued notices to the Federation, Pervez Musharraf and the registrar of the special court.

The court adjourned further hearing of the case till March 25.