Some people with questionable knowledge became judges: Fawad Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday that some people with questionable knowledge and credibility had became judges. 

The federal minister's remarks came a few hours after a special court hearing the high treason case against General (r) Pervez Musharraf issued the verdict. 

READ MORE: Musharraf treason case: All evidence points to crime of high treason, court says

"After the restoration of Iftikhar Chaudhry, some people with questionable knowledge and credibility became judges," he said. 

He said that people who were attempting to play with fire didn't know that they could get burned. 

"They neither have the capability to select words nor issue statements," he said. 

Chaudhry said that it was not new that people did not learn lessons from history. 

Astonished at barbaric manner of punishment: Aitzaz Ahsan

Pakistan Peoples Party leader and veteran lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan said that he "was astonished at the barbaric nature" of death punishment handed to General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, and suggested that the judge who authored the verdict be tried in the Supreme Judicial Council.

“I am generally against the death punishment. It is an irreversible punishment so I am one of those who do not like capital punishment. Having said that, it cannot be denied how Musharraf had arrested judges and appointed PCO judges. He mutinied against the state. He had done it in 1999 as well,” Ahsan told Geo News.

Ahsan questioned if Justice Seth was fit to arbitrate and called for legal action against him

"The judge who ordered that Musharraf be dragged at D-chowk and displayed for three days is a nonsensical decision. This was done by the Taliban. This was done hundreds of years ago. It cannot happen now. It calls for a case in the Supreme Judicial Council whether the judge is even fit [to arbitrate]," he said.

"Pervez Musharraf was arrogant but the fact that he is facing this situation, and is on a hospital bed and pleading is his punishment. There is no one in this country who would agree that what Justice Seth has ordered can be carried out in Pakistan. I am astonished," he added.

Special court issues detailed verdict in Musharraf high treason case

Dismissing criticism of a trial conducted 'in haste', the special court in its detailed verdict stated that Musharraf had “been afforded more than his due share of fair trial” and “given every opportunity to defend himself”.

The court further said that “the facts of the case are well documented” and “clearly demonstrate guilt on part of the accused”.

"The trial of high treason is the requirement of the Constitution against those individuals who undermine or attempt to undermine the Constitution by any means," the judgement stated.

"This Court after the presentation of undeniable, irrefutable and unimpeachable evidence by the prosecution against the accused reaches to the conclusion that indeed accused [Musharraf] is guilty and deserves exemplary punishment.

The court had sentenced Musharraf to death on Tuesday for imposing a state of emergency on November 3, 2007, adding that it had found him guilty of high treason in accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan.