Musharraf treason case: SC refuses to grant more time to federation

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan resumed hearing into five identical petitions, seeking prosecution of former president Pervez Musharraf for abrogating the Constitution Wednesday and refused to give more time to federation to submit response, Geo News reported.

Attorney General (AGP) of Pakistan Irfan Qadir was directed by a division bench of the apex court comprising Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain to explain if the Article 6 of the Constitution applied to former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf for high treason and come up with a reply of the federal government in writing in the instant matter through a concise statement by April 17.

The government, however, failed to come up with any response and the court turned down its request to grant one week’s time.

Sources said that though consultation between the AG and the law ministry took place, no decision could be taken to difference of opinion.

The AG, during today’s proceedings, said that the current government is part of caretaker setup and its limited mandate is to conduct free and fair elections. He continued saying that it must be watched that any such action should not affect the fairness of the caretaker government.

On this, Justice Khilji Arif remarked that the court’s orders are not given due importance and that the caretaker government should have taken a serious note of the SC’s ruling in the case.

He continued saying that apparently it is the responsibility of the federation to register a lawsuit in this case.

Musharraf's lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri said that judges are also included among those who supported Musharraf. Replying to this, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said that they are ready if federation wants to initiate trial against them.

Earlier on Tuesday, Interior Minister Malik Habib said that as per the judgments of the superior judiciary, Musharraf had subverted the Constitution, and resolved that the interior ministry would proceed against Musharraf as per the court orders and in consultation with the law ministry.