Mentee
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2016
- Messages
- 11,103
- Reaction score
- 2
- Country
- Location
The Lahore High Court on Monday resumed hearing a set of petitions filed by former dictator Pervez Musharraf challenging multiple actions against him, including his conviction in high treason, the establishment of the trial court and filing of the complaint by the government. — AFP/File
The Lahore High Court bench on Monday declared the formation of a special court bench, which heard a treason case against former dictator Pervez Musharraf, as "unconstitutional".
The LHC bench also ruled that the treason case against Musharraf was not prepared in accordance with the law.
Musharraf had been sentenced to death by a special court in Islamabad on December 17, 2019, after six years of hearing the treason case against him. The case was filed by the PML-N government in 2013.
In his petitions, Musharraf had asked the LHC to set aside the special court’s verdict for being illegal, without jurisdiction and unconstitutional for violating Articles 10-A, 4, 5, 10 and 10-A of the Constitution. He also sought suspension of the verdict till a decision on his petition is made.
A three-member full bench of the LHC comprising Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Mohammad Ameer Bhatti and Justice Chaudhry Masood Jahangir heard the petitions.
As the court resumed hearing Musharraf's pleas today, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Ishtiaq A Khan, appearing on behalf of the federal government, presented the summary and record of the formation of the special court. On Friday, Justice Naqvi had asked the federal government to submit a summary on the formation of the special court and had directed the state's lawyer to present arguments on Monday (today).
AAG Khan said that the matter of forming a case against Musharraf was never included in the cabinet agenda.
Justice Jahangir asked when the cabinet meeting under discussion was held. AAG Khan responded that it was held on June 24, 2013. He added that the cabinet met again with regards to the appointment of judges for the special court.
"It is the truth that the formation of the special court to hear the case against Musharraf was done without cabinet approval," he said.
According to the additional attorney general, the appointment of one of the judges in the special court had come under discussion in the cabinet on May 8, 2018. He added that on October 21, 2018, Justice Yawar Ali had retired and the special court was again broken.
The court inquired if the matter of the process of filing a complaint in the case had come up in cabinet meetings. AAG Khan responded in the negative.
"According to your record, there is no agenda or notification regarding the formation of the special court or the filing of the complaint," the bench noted.
The bench also discussed if imposing an emergency amounted to the suspension of the Constitution and Justice Naqvi remarked that "emergency is part of the Constitution".
"If the situation is such that the government imposes an emergency, will a treason case be filed against that government as well?" asked Justice Naqvi.
"Can an emergency be imposed under Article 232?" asked Justice Bhatti. The additional attorney general conceded that such a step would be in accordance with the Constitution.
"Then how is it a deviation from the Constitution?" asked Justice Naqvi. The AAG told the court that while passing the 18th Amendment, the parliament had included the suspension of the Constitution in Article 6 as an offence.
The bench asked if a person can be punished for an offence committed before an amendment is passed in that regard.
"An offence committed in the past cannot be punished after new legislation," the federal government's counsel told the court.
Justice Naqvi further said that by adding three words, the parliament had changed the entire status of the Constitution. He was referring to the amendments made in Article 6, where the parliament had deemed the abrogation, subverting or suspension of the Constitution as an offence of high treason.
"How many members comprised the FIA team that conducted the inquiry against Perves Musharraf?" asked Justice Naqvi, as the court examined the proceedings of the trial against Musharraf.
"A 20-25 member team was constituted which completed the inquiry," the AAG told the court.
"How many of those members participated in the trial?" the judge asked.
"Only one of them appeared [before the special court] for the trial," said AAG Khan.
"What is the value of an inquiry against Pervez Musharraf when those who conducted the inquiry did not appear during the trial [proceedings]?" remarked the judge.
This is a developing story - - - - - - - -
Last edited:
