Shaukat Aziz advised Musharraf to impose emergency: counsel
05 June, 2014
ISLAMABAD: The special court set up for Pervez Musharraf's high treason trial was informed on Wednesday by the defence lawyers that emergency was imposed in November 2007 in line with the advice of then prime minister Shaukat Aziz.
Barrister Faroogh Nasim, the former military ruler's counsel, requested the court to consider three options in the case: first, send it back to the federal government; second, amend the nature of charges, or third, totally reject the charges against his client. A three-member bench of the special court headed by Justice Faisal Arab resumed the hearing of the high treason trial against the former dictator on Wednesday.
Barrister Faroogh Nasim pleaded before the court that the high treason trial of Musharraf was initiated in compliance with the Supreme Court's verdict, but the third para of the said verdict was not included in the complaint, which never suggested action against only one person.
The defence lawyer said his client imposed emergency on the advice of the then prime minister and after due consultations with the then cabinet members. He also requested the court to direct the prosecution to provide complete documents related to the joint investigation team report prepared by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
He pleaded that the documents provided to them also indicate that a summary was moved by the prime minister's office in this regard. Barrister Faroogh informed the court that the said summary was not provided to the defence lawyers and it was missing from the documents. He argued that the PCO summary was signed by the then cabinet secretary, which indicates that the cabinet meeting was held in this connection.
The counsel complained to the court that prosecution (federal government) "has managed the misplacement or tempering of the concerned documents related to the high treason trial against his client".
Nasim said not a single member of parliament or cabinet protested or resigned after the proclamation of emergency in the country, which indicates that they agreed with the decision taken by his client. The defence lawyer pleaded before the court that all record and documents related to the proclamation of emergency should be provided to Musharraf. The court adjourned the case till today (Thursday).
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