Carateker gov’t will not initiate treason case against Musharraf

The caretaker government on Monday refused to initiate high treason proceedings against former President Pervez Musharraf as it has a limited role to hold elections and to deal with the routine affairs.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had sought reply from the government about five petitions, seeking Musharraf’s trial for treason for allegedly ‘subverting the constitution and declaring an emergency in 2007’.

Attorney General, Altaf Qadir, submitted a formal reply on behalf of the government, saying the interim government wants to leave the issue for the next government as it has no mandate to pursue the case.

In a five-page reply, he argued that the interim government only looks into day to day affairs and that it should avoid involvement in controversial matters.

Qadir said that the interim government traditional does not deal with important policy matters and leave such matters for the next government.

“Caretaker governments usually avoid controversial matters to avoid problems for the new government,” the Attorney General insisted.

He also said there is no urgency in the case and the new government after the May 11 parliamentary elections can look into important matters.

The three-member bench of the Supreme Court also allowed three defence lawyers of Pervez Musharraf to meet him at his farmhouse in Islamabad which has been declared as sub-jail after his arrest.

Earlier‚ the lawyers informed the court that they were not allowed to meet Pervez Musharraf when they reached his home after the court had issued order.

Pervez Musharraf advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri said they were not allowed to meet his client and as a protest he is returning to the Supreme Court and will take up the matter with the court.

Earlier the authorities in the Sub-Jail of the farm house Islamabad of Pervez Musharraf not allowed the lawyers of former military ruler to meet him saying they must produce written permission.

The apex court will again hear the case on Tuesday, court officials said.

The petitioners asked the Supreme Court  to direct the government to prosecute Musharraf under the High Treason (Punishment) Act of 1973.

Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.]

Legal experts say that only the government can approach the courts for high treason proceedings.

Musharraf is also facing other legal cases, including the 2006 killing of Baloch tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and the 2007 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.   He had dismissed the elected government of Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup and imposed military rule in October 1999.

Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan 1999-2008, 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-and-half year self exile in Britain and the UAE.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Apr 22 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.