ISLAMABAD: In the wake of Special Court’s detailed verdict in Musharraf treason case, the government has decided to file a reference against Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).
The decision was taken during a media strategy committee meeting headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad today (Thursday).
The government’s legal team has stated that para 66 in the detailed verdict – which states that the convict should be dragged to D-Chowk and hanged for three days – is violation of the legal and humanitarian limits.
The special court verdict has created a sense of anarchy in the country. This verdict negates the law, shariah and human rights, the legal team added.
According to sources, the prime minister vowed not to let stability be affected in the country and any attempt to create conflict among institutions will be foiled.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has also tasked his legal team to present the government’s response on special court’s verdict .
Earlier today, a three-member bench of the special court headed by Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth issued detailed verdict of high treason case against former president and General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
The registrar office of special court has handed over the copies of verdict, consisting 169 pages, to Pervez Musharraf’s lawyers and other parties in the case.
Justice Nazar Akbar opposed the verdict of sentencing Pervez Musharraf to death and cleared him of the accusations while Justice Waqar Seth and Justice Shahid Karim handed him the death penalty. The detailed verdict has been termed as first of its kind.
“We are of the considered view that the accused in this High Treason case has been afforded more than his due share of fair trial. The protected trial of a constitutional and not any ordinary offence that began six years ago in 2013, has yet to see its end in 2019. The accused, who has been given every opportunity to defend himself, has by his conduct in the proceedings only evinced his utter contempt for the law and legal institutions in this country. The facts of this case are well documented. The documents clearly demonstrate the guilt on the part of the accused. It proves beyond a shadow of reasonable doubt all the charges of High Treason leveled against accused by the State.
“It is patent by the act and conduct of the accused facing trial, that he has persistently and stubbornly strived ever since the commencement of this trial, to delay, retract and in fact evade it. It has been his plea throughout that either on account of ill health or for security hazards he could not reach up to this Court to face trial,” said the judgement.
“As a necessary corollary to what has been observed we find the accused guilty as per charge. The convict be therefore hanged by his neck till he dies on each count as per charge.
“We direct the Law Enforcement Agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict and to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk, Islamabad, Pakistan and be hanged for 03 days.”
