LAHORE, Jan 27: The Lahore High Court (LHC) while hearing two petitions seeking registration of a case against former military dictator Pervez Musharraf for high treason and issuance of red warrants for his extradition through Interpol on Thursday directed the attorney general to appear in person or depute any deputy attorney general to argue the case.

Earlier, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed expressed displeasure when Deputy Attorney General Tanvir Hashmi sought adjournment to obtain instructions from the federal government.

Justice Saeed observed that numerous adjournments had been obtained by the DAG in this case, which was regrettable. “However, in the larger interest of justice, case is adjourned for Feb 8 with clear understanding that on next hearing attorney general of Pakistan shall appear himself or depute any deputy attorney general with full instructions to argue the case,” the judge wrote in his order.

The petitions were filed by Advocate Rana Ilmuddin Ghazi through his counsel A.K. Dogar and Tehrik-i-Pakistan Party Secretary-General Aziz Ahmad Awan through Advocate S.M. Khawar. The petitioners levelled charges against former military ruler and sought registration of cases against him and issuance of red warrants for his arrest through Interpol for trial in the country.

They alleged that the former army chief had dissolved an elected parliament just to save his skin. They submitted that Musharraf violated the Constitution after he prevented judges of the superior courts from performing their duties and detained CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and his family.

He said when the legal fraternity launched a movement for the restoration of the judiciary, they were severely beaten up and false criminal cases were filed against them.

The petitioners requested the court to direct the federal government to institute a case against the former president under article 6 of the Constitution and seek extradition of Musharraf.

Army Action: A petition has been filed with the Supreme Court seeking directions for the chief of army staff to take effective measures in order to protect people’s lives in Karachi and make it a weapon-free city within three months. Lawyer Rana Ilamuddin Ghazi filed the petition submitting that it had become necessary to call in the armed forces in aid of civil authorities in Karachi to ensure security of innocent citizens and to flush out criminals.

The petitioner requested that the army should be called in for a period of three months to restore law and order and re-establish peace in the city.

He stated that Karachi's security situation was worsening and that was debilitating the country’s economy.

Mr. Ghazi pointed out that the federal as well as provincial governments had miserably failed to maintain law and order in the city. Police and Rangers also failed to stop target killings in Karachi.

The petitioner requested the court to direct the army chief to take measures on a war footing in order to crush anti-social elements in Karachi and to restore peace in the city.