Pakistani court adjourns Mush’s treason hearing
10 April 2013 10:28 PM IST
Pakistan’s top court Tuesday adjourned until 15 April hearing of petitions seeking high treason proceedings against former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf as his defence lawyers sought more time to prepare a response to the charges against him, media reported.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan Monday summoned Musharraf to appear in person or to be represented by lawyers to reply to charges against him.
Musharraf has appointed a team of legal experts to defend him in the apex court, which has received five petitions against him, reported Xinhua.
Defence lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri told the court that the defence team needs some time to reply to the charges in the petitions. He also informed the two-member bench that Musharraf could not attend the proceedings over security concerns.
The court had also barred Musharraf from leaving the country and later the Interior Ministry confirmed that Musharraf’s name had been placed on the Exit Control List. The court issued the orders on requests from the petitioners that Musharraf could go abroad in view of the possible formal trial.
The two-member bench comprising Justice Jawwad S. Khawja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain will resume hearing 15 April and defence lawyers are likely to submit replies to the charges against Musharraf.
The petitioner requested the court to direct the federal government to prosecute Musharraf under the country’s High Treason Act for suspending the Constitution and imposing emergency rule in 2007.
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.
Musharraf denied all charges and said he will defend himself in courts. He had resigned in August 2008 to avoid impeachment by parliament.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan Monday summoned Musharraf to appear in person or to be represented by lawyers to reply to charges against him.
Musharraf has appointed a team of legal experts to defend him in the apex court, which has received five petitions against him, reported Xinhua.
Defence lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri told the court that the defence team needs some time to reply to the charges in the petitions. He also informed the two-member bench that Musharraf could not attend the proceedings over security concerns.
The court had also barred Musharraf from leaving the country and later the Interior Ministry confirmed that Musharraf’s name had been placed on the Exit Control List. The court issued the orders on requests from the petitioners that Musharraf could go abroad in view of the possible formal trial.
The two-member bench comprising Justice Jawwad S. Khawja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain will resume hearing 15 April and defence lawyers are likely to submit replies to the charges against Musharraf.
The petitioner requested the court to direct the federal government to prosecute Musharraf under the country’s High Treason Act for suspending the Constitution and imposing emergency rule in 2007.
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.
Musharraf denied all charges and said he will defend himself in courts. He had resigned in August 2008 to avoid impeachment by parliament.
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