News
IHC seeks replies from Musharraf, govt
By Amir Jalil BobraISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed the federal government and former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to submit replies in the court within next two weeks. A single-member bench of the IHC comprising of Justice Athar Minallah heard the three identical petitions filed by former premier Shaukat Aziz, former chief justice of Pakistan Abdul Hameed Dogar and former law minister Zahid Hamid. During the hearing, representing former dictator, Faisal Chaudhary appeared before the court and pleaded for more time, requesting the court that Barrister Faroogh Nasim, the senior member of Pervez Musharraf defence team was unable to attend the hearing due to illness of his father. No judicial officer appeared before the court to represent the federal government. Justice Ather Minallah remarked, “It seems that federal government has no interest in the case”. While accepting the plea taken by Musharraf’s counsel for more time, the court directed the federal government and former president to submit their replies within next two weeks and adjourned the hearing till February 17. Earlier, three petitions were filed in the IHC by former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, Abdul Hameed Dogar and Zahid Hamid against the special court decision of November 21, while, challenging the inclusion of their names in the treason trial case against former dictator and president Pervez Mush raff. IHC in its written judgement restricted the special court from hearing the treason trial of former president Pervez Musharraf and termed the solo trial of former dictator a futile exercise. The judgement authored by the Justice Athar Minallah also restrained the federal government from taking any adverse action against former premier Shaukat Aziz, former chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and then law minister Zahid Hamid. The written judgement stated that pursuant to the consent of all the parties to the proceedings before the special court the federal government is restrained from proceeding against the petitioners. In a four-page written judgement, Justice Athar Minallah directed the special court comprising Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali that “in the circumstances, it would be futile to proceed against Pervez Musharraf alone, therefore, in order to meet the ends of justice, the special court may suspend its proceedings until the final adjudication of the present petitions. Similarly, the IHC granted the stay order against the implementation of special court’s November 21 judgement regarding the inclusion of abettors’ names in the treason trial.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk