News
Friday, May 24, 2013
Only federal govt can initiate treason trial of Musharraf: SC
ISLAMABAD: Hearing six identical petitions against former chief of army staff (COAS) General (r) Pervez Musharraf, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Jawwad S Khawaja has observed that it is the jurisdiction of the federation to lodge a complaint and constitute a special court for trial of the former army chief for subverting and abrogating the constitution. On the other hand, rejecting news report, counsel for the former president Ahmed Raza Kasuri on Thursday made it clear that his client has no desire to leave the country and will not flee. Counsel for the applicant, AK Dogar had pointed to news reports that Musharraf wanted to go out of the country. Kasuri denied this and said, “Yesterday (Wednesday) I held a meeting with Musharraf and he told me that he has no desire to go out of the country.” He said the interim government had refused to prosecute Musharraf and now it is up to the newly elected government to take this decision. Justice Ejaz Afzal observed that a mechanism had been given in the High Treason (Punishment) Act 1973 for proceeding against a person who had abrogated and subverted the constitution. He further said that a special court constituted by Law Ministry has to determine whether Musharraf was guilty of the high treason or not. hasnaat malik
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk