Islamabad (March 16, 2018): A special court in its written order in a high treason case against retired Gen Pervez Musharraf directed the interior ministry on Friday to take steps for the arrest and extradition of the former military dictator from Arab Emirate to Pakistan.
The court comprising Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Yawar Ali and Justice Tahira Safdar, senior puisne judge of the Balochistan High Court, also directed the joint secretary of the interior ministry to attach Mr Musharraf’s properties in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
Court has also ordered to interior ministry to take steps to suspend the passport and CNIC of Musharraf along with the steps to contact with Interpol for his arrest.
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It also directed the Musharraf lawyer to file request for the security of the Musharraf within seven days and also inform the interior ministry regarding his client return to Pakistan.
In the previous hearing on March 08, the interior ministry informed the court that it was difficult to attach even local properties of the accused as four out of seven properties were owned by the former army chief. And even these properties are disputed since spouse of the former dictator Sehba Musharraf, his daughter Ayla Raza and another relative Hidayatullah Kheshgi have claimed co-ownership of them.
Justice Afridi asked head of prosecution Mohammad Akram Sheikh to suggest the way forward since Mr Musharraf is abroad and the court has declared him a proclaimed offender.
Justice Afridi remarked that the special court had already held that the trial could only be resumed after the arrest or surrender of Mr Musharraf.
government in some cases had withdrawn the decoration (military medals) from the convicted or accused officers.
When Justice Afridi asked Advocate Sheikh to explain why Mr Musharraf had gone abroad and why the federal government failed to bring him back, he replied that after filing of the complaint in December 2013, the special court granted the accused bail, hence his custody was being regulated by the special court which observed at least three different times that there was no need either to take him into custody or place his name on the Exit Control List (ECL).
He said Mr Musharraf’s name was on the ECL, but the special court allowed him to travel abroad and the Sindh High Court (SHC) also struck down the interior ministry’s memorandum which placed him the ECL. The Supreme Court, however, left it to the special court or the federal government to regulate the custody of the accused since the trial court had already summoned him for recording of statement on March 31, 2016.
Musharraf, who is facing multiple charges including treason and murder over the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, arrived in Dubai on March 18 for what his lawyers said was urgent medical treatment after a three-year travel ban was lifted.
Musharraf was banned from leaving Pakistan in March 2013 after he returned to the country on an ill-fated mission to contest elections. The former ruler was barred from taking part in the polls and instead faces a barrage of legal cases.
Sindh High Court had lifted Musharraf’s travel ban, but the federal government appealed the verdict. SC upheld the Sindh High Court decision and ordered the government to allow Musharraf to travel.
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