Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has admitted for hearing a petition filed by former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Abdul Hamid Dogar against declaring him co-accused with former president Pervez Musharraf in high treason case and holding investigation against him.

The court directed to fix the case for hearing in the last week of February but refused to stay investigations against Dogar.

A three-member SC bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa took up the case for hearing on Wednesday.

Justice Khosa while expressing reservations over judicial trial against Pervez Musharraf in the high treason case remarked he has been stunned after reading about the case that the parties concerned have twisted this case with mutual consent to an extent that their mutual consent will be required to set the case right. “The investigation into November 3, 2007 emergency proclamation has been delayed so much that we have forgotten its date. The trial of treason case could not start even after a lapse of so much time,” he said.

Justice Khosa remarked, “11 appeals have been disposed of but your client’s trial has not started so far. It seems all has been done with your consent.”

Counsel for former CJP Iftikhar Gillani said conducting investigation against his client by mentioning his name was illegal as there was no evidence present against him. Justice Khosa remarked, “The special court in its November 21, 2014 decision had placed responsibility on three persons and ordered to conduct inquiry against them as co-accused. Does your client enjoy any exemption on the basis of which investigation should not be carried out against him?”

Gillani said, “My client’s statement has not been recorded while Pervez Musharraf’s statement was recorded.” He asked what material stands against his client he would be questioned about. Attorney General (AG) Suleman Butt said order was given for recording statements of Pervez Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz, Zahid Hamid and Abdul Hamid Dogar. “I think it is not aimed at giving any wrong message. It is just about holding an independent investigation. The same order has been given by the SC.” The court ordered to fix the hearing by the last week of February.