SC issues detailed verdict over discarding of Musharraf petition

E-Paper | April 26, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday issued its detailed verdict over the disposal of the petition filed by former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, against the apex court's earlier decision, saying the matter was time -barred, DawnNews reported.

Former president Musharraf had challenged the court's earlier judgment which had declared the military dictator's Nov 3, 2007 emergency, and most of the actions under taken it, as illegal and unconstitutional.

The 42-page verdict was drafted by Chief Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jillani whereas Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja attached 12 pages of additional notes to the verdict.

The court while issuing its judgement said that the arguements of the former president's lawyers were heard to fulfil the requirements of justice but the plea had to be discarded as it was time-barred.

The apex court’s 14-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani, on Jan 30, 2014, disposed of the petition, citing that the plea contained irrelevant precedence and was also time-barred.

There is a limited time after the announcement of a court judgment during which an appeal can be filed to challenge the court's decision and upon its expiry the case is considered as time-barred.

On Dec 23, 2013, Musharraf had filed a petition after a delay of over four years, seeking review of the landmark July 31, 2009, decision but the review petition was returned by the court office by raising eight objections, against which an appeal was preferred.

The review petition had pleaded that Musharraf was facing trial before the special court for the offence of high treason on the basis of July 31, 2009, verdict of the apex court, also accepting for the first time that the constitutional deviation by clamping Nov 3, 2007, emergency was for public good and to get rid of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry as well as some judges since their removal had then become impossible under the normal legal procedures.

The review petition argued that former elected Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had recommended taking extra-constitutional measures of proclaiming Nov 3 emergency.

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Pakistan

Apex court discards Musharraf’s review petition

Musharraf to challenge SC verdict against emergency

AKA

Apr 10, 2014 04:49pm

What about the Nawaz Sharif cases ? After how many years they were heard by SC ? I have heard somewhere in the news that Judiciary is free now a days but I really doubt.

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A J Khan

Apr 10, 2014 05:40pm

Nawaz Sharif is the only lucky ruler who has been repeatedly obliged. 1. When he sided with Zia, Bhutto was hanged. 2. When Benazir was ousted by Ghulam Ishaq & then Farooq Laghari, under article 58 2 B, the decision was upheld, however when Nawaz Sharif was removed by Ghulam Ishaq, court give its ruling in favor of Nawaz Sharif. 3. When Nawaz Sharif made an appeal against punishment in Hijacking case, after nine years, it was heard and got decision in his favor, while Musharraf case is time barred. This is called Rule of law in Pakistan where every Pakistani supposedly has equal rights. by the courts under similiar circumstances.

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Tufan Agha

Apr 10, 2014 05:46pm

The decision is wanting in justice. Musharraf should not have gone to the court, knowing fully well that he is not Nawaz Sharif.

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Sajid

Apr 10, 2014 07:16pm

@A J Khan: Mr. Khan - you seem to have such a lop sided sense of Justice! You are right in only one of the three contentions. In the first, Nawaz had not even entered Politics when Bhutto was hanged by Zia. In the second instance, your contention is absolutely right. In the third, how could have Nawaz appealed in the courts, when he was in forced exile. Even if he had appealed in absentia, do you think he would have even be allowed to do so. Musharraf supporters seem to believe that during his time or his fellow dictator's times absolute justice had prevailed. If Bhutto or Nawaz or any other of the Dictator's victims had appealed against the courts' verdicts against them, they would have received very fair trial and fair judgements! Is it believable or even imaginable?

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Zia

Apr 10, 2014 08:27pm

This is not justice and protection of equal rights. Musharraf gave an example of Nawaz Sharif's petitions not only being heard but the Supreme Court reversing its decisions against him. So why was Sharif not time-barred but Musharraf's appeal was under the exact same rationale? Moreover, if the decision not to review is as simple as it was time barred then why hear the arguments and what are 42 pages for?

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Shuaib

Apr 10, 2014 08:51pm

Musharraf and Zadari - two sides of the same coin. Only Zardari is the big shaitan and Musharraf is the chotta shaitan.

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saeed

Apr 10, 2014 08:55pm

@AKA: "What about the Nawaz Sharif cases ? After how many years they were heard by SC ? I have heard somewhere in the news that Judiciary is free now a days but I really doubt." Well, I think Judiciary is totally free, even free of law. They can make any decision and they don't have to follow any law. They are law onto themselves.

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Zia

Apr 10, 2014 09:08pm

So the honorables had already made up their minds that this petition was time-barred (they had to know going into the appeal) and they were just humoring the petitioner before stamping their verdict? Nice going. No wonder we think this judiciary is not fair minded. Moreover, I fail to understand what Nawaz Sharif has that no one else does when it comes to getting their way with the judiciary. Even his corruption cases that have a verdict have been in the cold storage of the supreme court, and no one will accounce the verdict. How amazing!

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khan

Apr 10, 2014 09:49pm

They were free and they are free now. They have used their powers for corruption,is their any doubt about it now.It is very unfortunate that we have the judiciary who has the lowest character you can think of.I think Pakistan will be better without judiciary and our police.These two institutions have the legal authority to do every kind of corruption.We will be much better if we have elected people locally,and provide justrice.And cases like involving big ones ,we need to hand over to Army.This is the only way left now.

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SachBol

Apr 11, 2014 02:21am

Truth be told. Whatever Musharraf is going through now would never have happened if he was Punjabi speaking.

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Sajid

Apr 11, 2014 11:20am

@khan: Let us bring back Retd. Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, the best CJ ever. You people deserve only the best!

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