Former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.—File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The hearing of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s bail plea in the judges’ detention case which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday (today) was postponed, DawnNews reported.

The postponement took place due to the absence of anti-terrorist court (ATC) special judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi who is currently suffering from typhoid.

Moreover, Rizwan Abbas, Musharraf’s counsel in the judges’ detention case, has been replaced by Ilyas Siddiqui.

Former President of Pakistan General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf.—File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan hearing the treason case against Pervez Musharraf sought a reply on Monday from the government over whether the former military ruler be tried under Article 6 or not, DawnNews reported.

The apex-court bench adjourned the hearing over the case until April 17 and issued an interim order.

A two-member bench of the court, comprising Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, was hearing the case against the retired general seeking his trial under Article 6 of the Constitution for imposing a state of emergency in 2007.

In it’s interim order issued the court inquired from the federal government about whether the Novemebr 2007 imposition of emergency by General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was constitutional or unconstitutional.

Earlier during the day Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf resubmitted his reply in the apex court of Pakistan pertaining to the treason case against him, taking into account objections raised by the Supreme Court’s Registrar’s office on a response filed earlier by the former president.

Earlier last, the court had rejected a request seeking the arrest of the former military ruler.

In this Sunday, March 24, 2013 photo, Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, gestures upon his arrival to Karachi airport. -AP Photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former president Pervez Musharraf will not appear personally in the Supreme Court on Tuesday to answer a summons over alleged treason dating back to his time in office, officials said.

He was summoned Monday by the Supreme Court, the first time Pakistan’s top court has summoned a former military ruler over allegations of misconduct.

Elections next month will mark the first democratic transition of power in the country’s history.

Musharraf returned last month from four years of self-imposed exile to stand in the May 11 poll, saying he wants to “save” the nation, although his powerbase in Pakistan has shrivelled in the years since he stepped down in 2008.

But lawyers sought to have the ex-general face trial under Article Six of the High Treason Act 1973 for imposing emergency rule and arresting judges in 2007.

Lawyer Hamid Khan told the Supreme Court that Musharraf had subverted the constitution and should be “punished with death or be jailed for life”.

Judge Jawad Khawaja said it was the “obligation” of the state to take effective measures against Musharraf “and others who subverted the constitution”.

“The office shall ensure service of notice to the respondents for tomorrow,” Khawaja told the court, referring to both Musharraf and a representative of the state. He also barred the ex-leader from leaving the country.

But Musharraf’s team announced late Monday that he would not appear in person.

“I have directed my panel of eminent lawyers to forcefully represent me in the Supreme Court of Pakistan tomorrow… These cases do not frighten me and I will fight all the cases in the court of law!” his Facebook account quoted him as saying.

His lawyer, Syed Afshan Adil, told AFP that there would be a “security issue”.

“It has been decided that his lawyers will represent him. However when the court considers it necessary he will appear in person,” Adil said.

His supporters say only the federal government can initiate a treason case. Pakistan is currently being overseen by an interim administration until a new government can be sworn in after the elections.

Musharraf was authorised Sunday to stand as a candidate in the remote northern area of Chitral, although a lawyer has vowed to appeal that decision, but he was rejected in three other seats.

He has been bailed over the 2007 killing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006, and for sacking and arresting judges during emergency rule in 2007.

Some analysts doubt that the Supreme Court will force the case against Musharraf and believe he will be free to run for the Chitral seat.

“I don’t think the Supreme Court will order his prosecution, this will be seen as settling accounts with Musharraf,” political analyst Hasan Askari told AFP.

“If the Supreme Court takes any action then the argument will be that it is a personal vendetta.”

Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf addresses supporters outside the airport upon his arrival in Karachi on March 24, 2013. – Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: In another blow to former President Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf bid for election, the Supreme Court on Friday accepted an application filed against the former military strongman, accusing him of committing treason under Article 6 of the Constitution.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, has been constituted to hear the case on Monday, April 8.

The application was filed by Chaudhry Taufiq Asif, the president of the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench bar association.

Asif said he had asked the court to try Musharraf for treason for imposing emergency rule in 2007, a move that ultimately paved the way for his downfall.

“I have been informed by the Supreme Court that a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is going to hear my petition against General Pervez Musharraf after three days,” Asif said.

The former Army chief returned to Pakistan on March 24 to contest general election after spending more than four years in self-imposed exile.

However, the former president’s electoral future appeared to be growing bleaker as, earlier on Friday, the returning officer in Kasur, an agricultural and industrial town in Punjab province, rejected his nomination papers for the elections.

A local lawyer, Javed Kasuri Advocate, had raised objections over the Musharraf’s candidacy for the NA-139 constituency, arguing that he does not qualify to contest elections under Article 62, 63 of the constitution.

The returning officer, Mohammad Saleem, accepted the objections and rejected the former dictator’s nomination paper.

Aasia Ishaque, information secretary for Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League, said the ruling would be challenged.

Musharraf had filed papers to contest the general elections from four seats, including Karachi, Islamabad, Chitral and Kasur.

Meanwhile, a Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Zafarullah, on behalf of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal, has filed an application before the Election Commission seeking disqualification of Musharraf.

The applicant alleged that Musharraf cannot contest polls due to his involvement in four cases: the Akbar Bugti killing case, the Lal Masjid case, the Benazir Bhutto killing case, and the Missing Persons case.

Praising authorities for pursuing candidates who faked a university education when it was a requirement, senior PML-N official Ahsan Iqbal said: “The irony is that the dictator who faked the constitution is freely roaming in the country”.

“If no action is taken against him, then it would be like taking punitive action against the corruption of lower functionaries and turning a blind eye to the corruption of big shots,” he added.

-Reuters Photo

ISLAMABAD: The assets and bank accounts of Dr Shakeel Afridi and his family have been sealed, DawnNews reported on Friday.

Afridi had allegedly helped to conduct a phony polio vaccination campaign at the behest of the CIA to secure the DNA of Osama bin Laden and his family.

Afridi owned real estate in various localities of Peshawar including Hayatabad, Shami road and Saddar which in total adds up to 15 Canals.

All of his property has now been sealed by the government including all the bank accounts in Pakistan in his name or his wife’s.

Surgeon’s house in Hayatabab phase III, in which he resided, was also sealed some days ago.

Earlier Afridi and his wife Imrana Ghafoor were also removed from their respective posts.

After the Abbottabad operation, he had been arrested at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Torkham while trying to escape the country.

It has been learned that the ‘treason case’ will start after the government’s approval has been given.