ISLAMABAD, May 16: The capital police have sent a reminder to Supreme Court of Pakistan seeking permission to record statements of the judges who were detained by former president Pervez Musharraf in connection with the investigation of the case registered against him, sources close to the development told Dawn on Thursday.

They said the letter was written three days back and sent to the interior ministry for onward dispatch to the apex court.

“The statement of the judges is necessary for submission of a complete case challan to the court,” stated the reminder as quoted by the sources.

A senior police officer, when contacted, told Dawn that the letter was received at the Central Police Office three days back and sent to the ministry the next day. The sources said that during the last week of April the police had submitted an incomplete challan to the court against the former president in connection with the judges’ detention case. The challan carried only the statement of the former president in which he denied the allegation of detaining the judges.

The challan did not carry any evidence or statement against the accused, the sources added.

The statements of the victims - the judges -, their families and servants are necessary for the submission of a complete challan, said the sources. However, none of them was available for recording the statement, according to the sources.

They said during the last week of April, the investigation officer of the case - Inspector Mubarak Ali - approached the SC for statements of the judges who were detained in their houses after proclamation of an emergency on November 3, 2007.

The inspector told the SC staff that the statement of the judges was necessary as there was nothing with the investigators against the accused. However, the apex court showed displeasure over the act of the investigation officer.

As a result, the police high-ups directed the investigators not to directly approach anyone in the apex court in connection with the case, an officer close to the investigation said.

The officer added that the investigators were also directed by the police authorities to slow down the investigation and gain as much time as possible. Besides, they were also asked to delay the process of collecting evidence and submitting challan to the court for trial of the accused.

“Without the statement of the judges, there is nothing to present as evidence against the former president,” the officer said.

He added that at one stage the investigators had also considered approaching the apex court to remove the section of the anti-terrorism act (ATA) from the FIR against the former military ruler which was added on the direction of the Islamabad High Court. But later it was decided to put the matter at the disposal of the trial court, he added.

Legal experts, police and investigators are of the view that the case had nothing to do with terrorism.