Nawaz Sharif approves Musharraf’s high treason trial
Monday, June 24th, 2013 12:52:26 by Tahir Khan
Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, Monday announced that his government will pursue high treason case against former military President Pervez Musharraf in the Supreme Court for abrogating the country’s constitution when he imposed emergency rule in November 2007.
Sharif’s statement in the parliament came shortly after the Supreme Court asked the Attorney General to inform the apex court about its stand on the trial of Musharraf in the high treason case.
Several individuals had filed petitions, seeking trial of Musharraf for high treason, in the Supreme Court, however, legal experts were of the view that the high treason trial could only be initiated if the federal government approaches the courts.
Shriaf announced in the National Assembly that Musharraf had twice abrogated the constitution and he must face courts.
“We have decided high treason case against Musharraf according to Article 6 of the constitution,” the Prime Minister said in the National Assembly or Lower of the Parliament.
Opposition parties welcomed Sharif’s announcement and announced support and demanded high treason charges against all those who had supported Musharraf’s action.
Leader of the opposition, Syed Khurshid Shah, speaking in the Hosue, proposed to remove portraits of all military rulers from the government buildings.
Musharraf had dismissed the government of Nawaz Sharif in October 1999 and later sent him into exile to Saudi Arabia.
“In 1999 country was on its way to progress and nothing was abnormal when the dictator dissolved the elected government,” Nawaz Sharif said.
He assured the apex court and people of Pakistan that every judgment of the judiciary will be respected and implemented
Musharraf abrogated the constitution twice without any lawful reason in October 1999 and again on 3rd of November 2007, he said.
He said the government is committed for upholding the supremacy of constitution at all cost and will respect all judgements of the superior court.
Earlier Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif presided over a meeting of the federal cabinet and got its approval for Musharraf’s trial.
Gen Musharraf, who returned to the country in March after three-year exile, is presently under house arrest at his farmhouse in Islamabad due to cancellation of his bail in the murder case of a tribal elder Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2005.
Besides treason charges and Bugti case, he is being tried in the judges’ detention case and Benazir Bhutto’s assassination case.
Tags: Akbar Bugti, Benazir Bhutto, Khurshid Shah, Musharraf high treason, Nawaz Sharif, pervez musharraf
Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=40674
Posted by Tahir Khan
on Jun 24 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan.
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It will be interesting to see how the Supreme Court defends its position of validating the military take over. SC did not only validate it but also allowed the military dictator to amend the constitution.The CJP was a signatory on the historic judgement. What will become of the generals who acted on ground while Musharraf was flying around in a diverted aircraft. If the doctrine of necessity was to be set aside, in that case all actions taken by the dictator will have to be set aside as well. Including the judgments passed by judges who took oath under the PCO. Musharraf knew of this complexity and that is the reason why he decided to come and stay. The judges will drag this case to a point when all the actors in the drama are dead and gone. Very interesting time ahead.