Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Special Court bench conducting the high-treason trial against former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf was dissolved on Thursday after Justice Yahya Afridi, who was heading the bench, recused himself from hearing the case.

Justice Yahya Afridi, who is chief justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), recused himself from the bench after counsel for Musharraf objected to his inclusion in the bench, contending that he was lawyer of former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, when he was made dysfunctional by then president Musharraf.

After the objection, the bench deliberated on the matter in-chambers and later Justice Afridi recused himself from the bench. He, however, in his short order, observed that the objection raised by counsel for Musharraf were incorrect as he had never been the counsel for former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

He clarified that in fact he was a co-petitioner in the case against the Nov 3, 2007 emergency imposed by then president and army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Justice Tahira Safdar of the Balochistan High Court and Justice Yawar Ali, chief justice of the Lahore High Court, were other members of the bench.

Earlier on March 16, the special court had directed the federal government to put in place special measures to bring the former military ruler back from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Interior Ministry was directed to arrest the former military ruler through the Interpol.

The federal government was directed to take measures for the confiscation of Musharraf’s assets. The court had directed the Interior Ministry to take action to revoke Musharraf’s national identity card and passport.

Musharraf, through his counsel, had requested for foolproof security upon return to Pakistan in relation to his appearance before the special court. However, a few days later, the counsel for Musharraf had informed the court that they were not satisfied with the security arrangements and thus his client would not be travelling to the country until adequate arrangements were in place.

Published in Daily Times, March 30^th 2018.