ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday stopped the special court formed to try the former President Pervez Musharraf for high treason from working.
The IHC judge Justice Attar Minallah announced the decision on Tuesday over petitions filed by former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the former Chief Justice of Pakistan Abdul Hameed Dogar and former Law Minister Zahid Hamid in which they challenged the special court’s November 21 order.
A three-member bench of the special court headed by Justice Faisal Arab on November 21 on a plea filed by the former president ordered that the names of co-accused should also be included in the high treason case.
In their respective applications, the counsels of the petitioners maintained that under section 342 of the criminal procedure code, the accused has no right to ask for a joint trial with a co-accused as it is only the right of the prosecution to decide who to prosecute.
The counsels further stated that the application filed by Musharraf was based on assumptions, as there was no concrete evidence on record that concluded any other person had collaborated, aided or abetted the former military ruler in imposing the state of emergency in 2007.
The IHC judge after hearing arguments from all parties restrained the special court from hearing the treason case and adjourned the matter till February 3.
