pakistan

Death sentence: Supreme Court admits Musharraf’s appeal for hearing

Gen Musharraf had appealed against the death sentence handed him down by a special court

Published

6 months ago

November 10, 2023

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Death sentence: Supreme Court admits Musharraf's appeal for hearing

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday admitted the appeal against the conviction of former president Pervez Musharraf in a high treason case for hearing.

A four-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Aminuddin and Justice Athar Minallah, heard the case.

At the outset of the hearing, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa wondered why cases of year 2019 were not fixed for hearing.

Regarding formation of the four-member bench which is hearing the appeal, CJP Isa said Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was included in the panel because he had been part of the former bench.

The counsel for former president, Salman Safdar, said after amendments to criminal laws, an appeal against the decision of special court could be filed in the apex court.

He said the decision announced by the special court was not unanimous. The ex-president was convicted in his absence.

The CJP asked him why the appeal was not allotted a number. Safdar replied that the Registrar’s Office objected that unless a convict surrenders, his appeal cannot be entertained. Later, during in-chamber hearing, the court ordered to fix the case for hearing in open court, he added.

Replying to Chief Justice Isa’s question that after in-chamber hearing when the appeal was fixed for hearing, Safdar said it was set for today.

He said he could not explain why the appeal was fixed for hearing so late.

The chief justice said if it was court’s fault, mention it courageously, “you are a senior lawyer.”

Safdar said it is a fundamental right of a convict that his appeal be heard before sending him to gallows. “I requested during the in-chamber hearing to fix the appeal before open court.”

Later, the court admitted the appeal for hearing.

THE CASE

Gen Musharraf had appealed against the death sentence handed him down by a special court.

In January 2020, a three-member bench of the Lahore High Court had declared the special court unconstitutional. After the LHC verdict, Gen Musharraf challenged special court’s decision.

In December 2019, the special court sentenced him to death after finding him guilty of high treason for subverting the constitution in 2007. Gen Musharraf took power in a 1999 coup.

The court directed law enforcers to apprehend Musharraf, who was under medical treatment in Dubai at that time, to ensure the death sentence is carried out.

The three-judge panel ruled that the corpse of Musharraf should hang for three days if the general dies before his execution.

It may be recalled that in November 2007, Musharraf suspended the constitution and imposed emergency rule, prompting protests. He resigned in 2008 to avoid the threat of impeachment. When Nawaz Sharif, whom Musharraf deposed in 1999, was re-elected prime minister in 2013, he initiated a treason trial against Musharraf and in 2014 he was charged with high treason.

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Court reserves verdict on PTI founder’s bail plea in May 9 case

Published

1 day ago

May 16, 2024

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Court reserves verdict on PTI founder's bail plea in May 9 case

The Islamabad district and sessions court has reserved verdict on the bail plea of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder in the May 9 case.

Judicial Magistrate Omar Shabbir heard the case against the PTI leader registered in Shahzad Town police station.

Naeem Haider Panjhota, Sardar Masroof and Amina Ali appeared before the judge as counsel for the PTI leader.

The lawyers said the case against the PTI founder had not been pursued by an authorised officer. All cases against him had been instituted on the basis of politics and should, therefore, be quashed, they demanded.

The court after listening to the arguments reserved the verdict.

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pakistan

Rawalpindi court bins plea for initiating case against former commissioner Liaquat Chattha

Published

1 day ago

May 16, 2024

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Rawalpindi court bins plea for initiating case against former commissioner Liaquat Chattha

The Rawalpindi Sessions Court on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking the registration of a case against former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Hakim Khan issued a two-page written order on the petition.

In its order, the court observed that apart from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), a departmental inquiry was also being conducted against the former commissioner.

If the allegations were proven in the ECP and departmental inquiries, a legal action was certain, the order stated, adding that in this situation, there was no justification for registering a separate case against the former Rawalpindi commissioner.

Two lawyers from Rawalpindi had filed the petition seeking the registration of a case against former commissioner.

In a Feb 18 presser, the former commissioner admitted that elections in his division were “rigged”.

The commissioner accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja of being complicit in the rigging and asserted that he, along with the CEC and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, deserved punishment, even the death penalty, for their injustice.

Chattha expressed remorse for forcing his subordinates to engage in wrongdoing and admitted that winning candidates were made to lose on 13 seats in the Rawalpindi division.

Later on Feb 23, Chattha retracted his earlier statement in a written statement submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

In the statement, Chattha confessed to having supported the narrative of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) about rigging in the general elections and maligning state institutions in exchange for a lucrative position in the future.

He stated he had been made this offer by a Lahore-based PTI leader with whom he had developed a close friendship.

Chattha alleged that “this entire planning had been formulated after consultation and approval of the senior leadership of PTI”.

He stated that this proposal was made by the said [PTI] individual in consideration of the fact that he was about to retire from service after having remained a part of the services for 32 years and enjoyed all the perks and privileges.

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pakistan

IHC orders Zartaj Gul to appear before court with record in ECL name removal case

Published

1 day ago

May 16, 2024

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IHC orders Zartaj Gul to appear before court with record in ECL name removal case

Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought the record from Zartaj Gul’s counsel on a petition seeking the name removal of PTI leader and MNA Zartaj Gul from the Exit Control List (ECL).

IHC’s Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the case on Zartaj Gul’s name removal from ECL.

During the hearing, the state counsel stated that Zartaj Gul’s name has been included in the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).

Upon inquiry from the court, the state counsel informed that Zartaj Gul’s name was included in PNIL on the order of Islamabad and Punjab police, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was responsible for including the name in PNIL.

Also read: PTI’s Shibli Faraz, Raja Basharat, Zartaj Gul secure bail in May 9 cases

State counsel added that five cases were registered against Zartaj Gul in Islamabad and Punjab.

The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Usama, disclosed that Zartaj Gul has been granted bail in those cases. He reiterated that the name was being included in the PNIL list despite being on bail.

During the hearing, Justice Tariq Jahangiri inquired about how many cases Zartaj Gul has been granted bail in and ordered the petitioner to appear before the court in the next hearing.

Consequently, IHC has adjourned the case hearing until next week by directing Zartaj Gul’s counsel to appear before the court in the next hearing with records.

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