Treason case a matter of eight to 10 days, says prosecutor

Published March 26, 2014
Police officers stand guard at the gate of the Special Court, formed to try former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf for treason in Islamabad  January 1, 2014. — File photo by Reuters
Police officers stand guard at the gate of the Special Court, formed to try former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf for treason in Islamabad January 1, 2014. — File photo by Reuters

ISLAMABAD: The special court formed to try former president Pervez Musharraf for treason resumed its hearing on Wednesday during which chief prosecutor, Akram Shaikh, said that in light of the evidence, the case was now a matter of eight to 10 days, DawnNews reported.

The three-member court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh HIgh Court, heard the case during which prosecution and defence lawyers presented their arguments.

In his arguments, chief prosecutor Akram Sheikh said he had been speaking of either a life term or a death sentence for the former president with regard to the High Treason Punishment Act 1973.

He added that in every interview he had stated that he was bound by the law and the Constitution and had further said that being a lawyer he had every right to ascertain the term of the case which in light of the evidence was now a matter of eight to 10 days.

Sheikh said that there was no bias in his statements.

He, moreover, said that his statement on the former military dictator's blood pressure was made in the court and not to any television channels, adding that CDs of his interviews could be viewed and if a bias was evident in any of them then the court could choose to replace him.

Sheikh further said that the trial had yet to begin so it was difficult to reconcile with the idea that the prosecutor's bias could already be detected.

Reaching the end of his argument, the chief prosecutor said that the complaint and the concerned evidence had been submitted by the federal government and the prosecution had no independent role in it.

The court took a short recess after hearing the prosecution's arguments following which counsel for Musharraf, Anwar Mansoor, presented his arguments.

After arguments were concluded from both sides for the day, the court adjourned the hearing to tomorrow.

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