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Musharraf To Lose Right To Defend If He Fails To Appear Before SC

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday affirmed that former president Pervez Musharraf’s all his defensive rights will be brought to an end if he fails to appear before the top court on next hearing of May 02 in his high-profile treason case.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa heard the high-profile treason case against Pervaiz Musharraf where court’s writ of March 28 was presented.

When inquired by CJP Asif Khosa about any sort of assurance given by the former president regarding his appearance, the counsel Salman Safder stated that he himself will appear before the court and record his statements in person.

To this, the bench hinted that legal action may take place if former president defies by his own words of returning back to Pakistan for the hearing.

Counsel Salman said, “I cannot give the court my personal guarantee regarding former president’s appearance, however as a lawyer I have been informed that he will appear in person. He has given May 13 as his return date”.

Counsel claimed that the case has become ‘inefficient’ at the top court.

Chief Justice remarked that trial becomes non-constitutional in absence of the suspect but in this affair, the suspect is shying from court appearance intentionally which the court cannot allow.

“Court cannot let any suspect attain benefit from not making an appearance before the court. Treason case of such high-level is no joke”, maintained CJP Khosa.

Subsequently, the court announced that if the former president Musharraf fails to appear on May 02, then the special court would announce its judgment on the case after hearing the prosecution.

“Suspect will lose his right to defend if he fails to appear before the court and will not even have the facility to record his statement under Section 342”, concluded the bench.