WASIM IQBAL
ISLAMABAD: A special court headed by Justice Faisal Arab will hear the treason case against General Pervez Musharraf (retd) on Tuesday (today) after he was indicted on March 31, 2014.
Talking to Business Recorder, Barrister Farogh Naseem said that General Pervez Musharraf (retd) has yet to convey to him in what capacity he wanted him to assist him in a treason case. “Musharraf has to decide whether or not he is satisfied with the performance of his legal team headed by Ahmed Raza Kasuri or he would like me to replace him. Or he may ask me to be a part of his current legal team for tomorrow’s trial in the special court,” he added. He emphasized that he had not yet received any directives from Gen Musharraf (retd) so far.
Kasuri-led legal team took the stand that it did not recognize the special court and that it stood dissolved after Justice Faisal Arab refused to further hear the case during the second last hearing; on the day of the summons on 31 March Barrister Farogh Naseem surprised all by filing Musharraf’s power of attorney empowering him to represent Musharraf.
Naseem told Business Recorder that “I have full confidence in judges. Some time it happens that judges and legal team have difference of opinion in a case. It is possible that a judge may not follow the arguments of a lawyer. I always salute Chief Justice Tassadduq Hussain Jillani and other judges before whom I plead my cases.”
Musharraf has denied charges framed against him when he was indicted by the special court on March 31 – if he is convicted he faces death or life imprisonment for committing high treason.
The former army chief insists that he imposed emergency on Nov 03, 2007 as chief of army staff after consulting with the then cabinet headed by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who has yet to touch his native land after he left the country in 2008.
Responding to a question, Member National Assembly belonging to MQM, Rashid Godil told Business Recorder that his party was not supporting the embattled former president General Musharraf (retd). “Our point of view is that all those who helped the former army chief topple the then government should also be put in the dock,” he added.
Godil said no doubt Dr Naseem is an MQM senator but he is also a professional lawyer and added that Naseem may be a part of the legal team of Musharraf in his individual capacity as a lawyer.
The most challenging case facing Gen Musharraf is that of high treason which bears five charges including suspending the constitution and imposing emergency rule. He has pleaded not guilty but could face death if convicted.
The majority of Pakistanis are convinced that Musharraf has the support of the Pakistan Army given his three month stint in Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology without undergoing any tests or surgery as well as last week’s statement by the Chief of Army Staff that highlighted concerns of soldiers of undue criticism of the army in recent days.
Few believe the trial will actually lead to his conviction, while others maintain that even if Musharraf remains on the exit control list till the verdict is announced he would then be pardoned and allowed to leave the country.
