News
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Musharraf escape : SC refuses to stay IHC order for action against IG* Bani Amin tells court commandos disguised as lawyers were present outside court
* Musharraf was taken away by armed Rangers and his personal guards
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) refused to grant stay order against Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict directing action against the Islamabad IGP Bani Amin in Pervez Musharraf escape case.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja took up for hearing an appeal of the IGP challenging the order of the IHC directing the interior secretary to take action against him for not taking proper steps to arrest Musharraf. Advocate Chaudhry Aziz appeared on behalf of the IGP. He told the court that police had made adequate security arrangements for the Musharraf case hearing, but the problem occurred due to the presence of 200 Rangers.
He claimed that military commandoes were present there in the garb of lawyers. “My client was also present in the Supreme Court in connection with a case and he was also to review the arrangements of international judicial conference. Pervez Musharraf was arrested by 3.30 pm,” Aziz stated. Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked that law should be equal for all and there should be no double standards. He asked why police did not stop commandoes in high court.
The IGP’s counsel said, “General public was of the view that no other security is needed in the presence of Rangers and police contingents. When the bail was rejected, vehicle was available near the door and he (Musharraf) boarded it and disappeared.” The court questioned why the capital police did not take action against other law enforcement agencies’ officials who had helped Musharraf escape from the Islamabad High Court. The bench was surprised to know that a clash between the Rangers and the Islamabad police was feared if the law enforcers had tried to arrest Musharraf after the IHC denied him pre-arrest bail.
IGP Bani Amin informed the bench that more than 40 policemen were deputed outside the court on April 18 when bail plea of the former president was dismissed, but Musharraf was taken away by armed Rangers and his personal guards. He, however, added that following the orders of the IHC, Islamabad police took Musharraf into custody at about 3:30pm and kept him at his farmhouse after consulting high officials of the government. He also said that a number of personal guards of Musharraf were wearing lawyers’ uniform.
Bani Amin said the presence of Rangers led to the idea that they would help police in arresting Musharraf if his bail plea was dismissed, but the paramilitary soldiers acted otherwise and frisked away the accused. On a court query, the IGP further told the bench that the bulletproof vehicle of Musharraf along with his official and personal guards were allowed to enter the court premises by Muhammad Shafique IHC assistant registrar. The hearing of the case was adjourned until today (Thursday).
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk