ISLAMABAD: The last prosecution witness in judges detention case testified before the anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Islamabad on Monday.

Retired Lt-Col Inamur Rahim advocate is the 21st prosecution witness who testified against the former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The case was registered against Mr Musharraf on the complaint of an advocate Aslam Ghumman. Mr Ghumman, however, later backed off from pursuing the case.

The last prosecution witness advocate Rahim testified before the court that he was serving as Lt-Col in Corps Headquarters Karachi in 2007 in the capacity of Judge Advocate General. He stated that in the last week of October 2007, he was consulted on imposition of emergency and incapacitating the judges of Supreme Court from performing their responsibilities.

In the statement, Rahim maintained that in his opinion the president had no power to remove or detain any judge and in case Mr Musharraf opted for such a move, it would bring bad name to the military.

The statement claimed that the officers of the Corps Headquarters also agreed with his opinion. However, it further states, the highups sent him on forced retirement.

Apart from this opinion, Rahim claimed that the reason for his early retirement was that he was against the enforced disappearances of citizens.

After recording the statement of last prosecution witness, the court adjourned further proceeding till next month.

The judges’ detention case was registered by the Secretariat Police Station on Aug 11, 2009, on the complaint of Advocate Ghumman who had sought legal proceedings against the former military ruler for confining 60 judges of the apex court for over five months at their homes and restraining them from administering justice.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2017