IHC stops verdict in Musharraf treason case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday stopped the special court from announcing the verdict in the treason against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

The court announced the decision on a petition filed by the interior ministry requesting to set aside the special court’s decision to announce its judgement in the high treason case on November 28.

In a short order, the IHC accepted the ministry’s petition and barred the special court from announcing the verdict. A similar petition was filed by Musharraf was wrapped up with the court issuing directions on it. The court had earlier today reserved its verdict on both Musharraf and the interior ministry’s petitions.

A three-member bench of the high court, comprising of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani first heard the petition filed by the interior ministry.

READ MORE: IHC to resume Musharraf treason case today

Sajid Ilyas Bhatti Additional Attorney General (AAG) represented the government in court. Former President Musharraf was represented by lawyer Salman Safdar.

Justice Minallah first addressed the additional attorney-general in his remarks. 

“Is there an official notification about the formation of the special court?” the judge asked, and was told by Bhatti that an official notification in this regard existed.

The court also expressed displeasure over the absence of Law Secretary Muhammad Khashih-ur-Rehman from proceedings. 

READ ALSO: LHC to hear Pervez Musharraf’s petition in high treason case today

The special court had on concluded the trial proceedings November 19in the high treason case against Musharraf for declaring a state of emergency on November 3, 2007.

The court ruled that a verdict would be announced today. The three-judge court was headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed.

The government had on Monday also filed a petition seeking deferment of the announcement of the verdict in the high treason case. The entire prosecution team in the high treason case was denotified on 24th October.