Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Additional District and Sessions Judge Pervaizul Qadir Memon on Wednesday sought comments from the Interior Ministry regarding the issuance of red warrants against former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf in the Abdul Rasheed Ghazi murder case.

The court also dismissed the application filed by Musharraf’s counsel vis-à-vis provision of security to the former president and recalling the court order in which the former president was declared an absconder in the murder case of Lal Masjid’s cleric.

On Wednesday, the court resumed the hearing on an application filed by Haroon Rasheed seeking directives for the Interior Ministry to issue red warrants for Musharraf’s arrest and his subsequent extradition to Pakistan through Interpol.

During the hearing, Advocate Tariq Asad argued that Musharraf’s counsel should make public the estimated time of the arrival of his client so that the court’s time might not be wasted and the case could be led to its logical end.

In response, Musharraf’s counsel Akhtar Shah told the court that Musharraf would be back in the country within five or six weeks but his return is linked to the advice of his physicians and the security conditions.

Shah asserted that the court’s order to declare Musharraf an absconder in the Ghazi murder case was unlawful and the court should recall it. He added that the order was issued in his absence and he was not given enough time to defend the case.

He argued that why security has been denied to Musharraf when Article 9 of the constitution permits to give security to any person. Shah argued during the hearing that the case against Musharraf was baseless with no legal grounds and the court should listen to him before giving any final decision in the case.

The court adjourned the hearing until February 22 by giving remarks that comments have been sought from the Interior Ministry about granting red warrants for Pervez Musharraf’s arrest and all the applications filed by his legal counsel are dismissed.

Talking to media after the hearing, Musharraf’s counsel said Musharraf did not initiate the action against Lal Masjid on his own but it was the civil administration that called upon the army to avert the situation; therefore, in the light of Article 245(1) of the constitution, it was illegitimate and unconstitutional to try him in court.

Supporters of Musharraf and workers of his party ‘All Pakistan Muslim League’ gathered outside the court and chanted slogans against civil administration and the ruling party after the hearing.

On December 22, complainant Haroon Rasheed filed an application seeking directions for the Interior Ministry to issue red warrants against Musharraf as well as his extradition to Pakistan through Interpol.

The court had admitted the application for hearing and sought the federation’s reply.