Treason case: Court orders FIA to provide inquiry report to Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: The Special Court resumed hearing of the high treason case against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on Thursday and ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to provide the investigation report to former president by May 14, Geo News reported.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab and consisting of Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali Khan heard the case against the former dictator and accepted Musharraf’s counsel Barrister Farogh Naseem’s request for the provision of FIA’s inquiry report.

The Special Court had reserved its verdict over the Defence Counsel's demand on April 28.

During today’s proceedings, the court ordered the FIA to provide the relevant inquiry report to Musharraf and said that it is the legal responsibility of the prosecution to provide the investigation report and other relevant record to the defence lawyers.

The court will also hear the petitions related to hearing of the case on daily basis along with fixing the date to present witnesses in the court today.

During the last hearing, counsel for Pervez Musharraf, Barrister Farogh Nasim withdrew the two petitions relating to section 6-A of the Special Court Act-1976. He submitted that section 6-A of Special Court Act-1976 has expired and his petitions in this regard may kindly be returned and added he would be presenting his reservations verbally.

At his moment, prosecutor Akram Sheikh on objection said that the defence counsel on the one hand was taking back the petitions and on the other continuing his arguments.

Barrister Farogh Nasim prayed to the court not to further proceed in the case until the ruling on the handing over to him a copy of the FIA report announced. He said he would finalize his future strategy in the light of the court’s decision and hastily added that it should not be perceived that the trial proceeding being delayed because of him.

Later, the court approved the withdrawal of petitions that stated the law under which the accused indicted was superseded by 1981 Ordinance.