Musharraf gets extension in bail in judges detention case

Former President Pervez Musharraf Friday appeared in a court in Islamabad to reply to the charges about his action to impose emergency rule during his 1999-2008 government, lawyers said.

A case had been filed in an Islamabad police station against Musharraf, charging him of placing hundreds of top judges under house arrest when he imposed emergency rule and suspended the constitution in 2007.

A lower court had issued arrest warrant for Musharraf in the case and had declared him proclaimed offender as he had previously failed to appear before the court despite several orders.

His defence lawyer told the court that he could not appear as he had been out of the country.

Musharraf had then got a temporary bail and the Islamabad High Court extended the bail until April 18.

His defence lawyer had sought a two-week time over security concerns. However the Chief Justice Islamabad High Court,  Shaukat Aziz Siddiqi, gave only a six-day extension and will hear the case next week.

The Court also asked Musharraf as to why he had not taken up the issue in a lower court and instead approaching the High Court.

The court ordered the former President to submit a surety bond of five hundred thousand rupees.

The application against Musharraf says that he had kept judges in house arrest for nearly five-and-half month and had restrained them from professional duties who had refused to take oath under a provincial constitutional order he had introduced after imposing emergency.

Musharraf, wearing national dress ‘shalwar qamees’ was brought to the court in a bullet-proof jeep under tight security. Dozens of paramilitary soldiers and a large number of police were deployed outside and inside the court’s premises.

A group of lawyers chanted slogans as Musharraf came out of the court room. Dozens of Musharraf’s supporters also arrived at the court and raised slogans in his favour. The security forces were on alert to avoid any clash between the supporters and rivals of Musharraf.

Musharraf is also facing other legal cases, including treason charges for imposing emergency rule, the 2007 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto and the killing of a Baloch leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006.

Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, denied all charges and said he will defend himself in courts. He had resigned in August 2008 to avoid impeachment by the parliament and then went into exile.

He returned to Pakistan last month after over four year self exile in Britain and the UAE. He is now taking part in the parliamentary elections and also plans campaign for his All Pakistan Muslim League party.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=39875

Posted by Tahir Khan on Apr 12 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.