Treason case: IHC rejects Musharraf's objections over special court

Pervez Musharraf, who is due to appear before a special court on December 24, is the first former military dictator in Pakistan's history to face trial for treason. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday rejected all three pleas by former dictator Pervez Musharraf against the special court constituted to try him for treason, Express News reported.

Musharraf had raised objections over the authority of the special court, appointment of judges and prosecutor.

The decision was taken by Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan, who declared the requests inadmissible.

The special court comprises Sindh High Court’s Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Tahira Safdar of the Balochistan High Court and Justice Yawar Ali of the Lahore High Court.

Musharraf, when challenging the authority of the special court, stated that he was the army chief when he introduced the 2007 emergency and  a military court alone could examine his actions.

The ex-military strongman is due to appear before the special court on December 24 to face treason charges 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.

Exit Control List

Earlier today, the Sindh High Court (SHC) disposed of a plea seeking removal of former dictator Pervez Musharraf’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

The court said this matter does not fall under their authority and advised Musharraf’s advocate to refer to the government to have the former president’s name removed from the list.

The government had barred Musharraf from leaving Pakistan because he was at that time arrested for his involvement in three criminal cases, including the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The former dictator had later received bail in all the cases, however, his name was not removed from the ECL.

Musharraf’s counsel had moved the court, stating that his client wanted to be with his 95-year-old ailing mother in Dubai after his release on bail and that keeping his client’s name on the ECL was a violation of fundamental rights.

The attorney general today said that Musharraf’s name was put on the list because of criminal cases against him and the petition should be disposed of.

The court had made its decision on December 20 but announced it today.