Musharraf seeks world intervention to halt treason trial

LONDON: Pervez Musharraf’s legal representatives have submitted a report to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and have also appealed to US, Britain and Saudi Arabia to help the former military dictator whose treason trial is scheduled to begin on Dec 24.

At a press conference here, Steven Kay QC and criminal law expert Toby Cadman, accompanied by Chaudhry Sarfraz Anjum Kahlon, said they had detailed the alleged “irregularities” against the former president in their report to the UN but they failed to explain the source of funding for the expensive legal move.

They refused to answer questions on who had instructed them. When the two lawyers, belonging to an expensive London legal firm, were asked whether they were instructed directly by Pervez Musharraf or someone else from Pakistan or Britain, they refused to answer questions about the financial deal involved. It’s also interesting that a PR firm was hired for the occasion to manage the media and that must have cost additionally to the sponsors of the legal action of Pervez Musharraf supporters.

The two lawyers attacked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and said the trial complies with “no known legal norms”. The lawyers presented their brief report before the media which they said they had sent to the UN on Friday calling for a full UN review by the UN High Commissioner and UN Special Rapporteurs to engage with the government of Pakistan and reconsider their current actions against the former president. Currently the treason trial of the former military dictator is scheduled to begin on 24th December 2013.

Musharraf’s legal team called on the international community, in particular the British, US and Saudi Governments to intervene to support Musharraf who has provided immense assistance to the West in its “war on terror”. When asked that if they were against the law of the Pakistan taking its course against the former dictator, the lawyers claimed that cases against Musharraf are “unsubstantiated” and “false”.

Steven Kay QC said: “The British and US Governments owe former President Musharraf a great debt for his support in the war against Islamic terrorism and the ongoing military actions in Afghanistan. In his time of need, it is crucial the British and American authorities act to support Musharraf, and support the rule of law in Pakistan by bringing all pressure to bear on the Government to end this show trial”.

Toby Cadman, Barrister-at-law commented: “This does not bode well for the stability of Pakistan under his premiership, at a time when the international community needs the rule of law and multi-party democracy to re-establish itself in the face of the threat from Islamic militancy."