ISLAMABAD - Former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf Tuesday, through a petition, sought relocation of the Special Court at a completely safe and secure venue in view of the Islamabad Kutchehri attack and adjournment of the proceedings sine die until proper arrangements are made.
In the petition filed at the Special Court, the former dictator’s legal team said the 3rd March incident at the Islamabad District Courts reflects the failure of the government to maintain law and order even in courts. “It is no longer safe for judges and lawyers to perform their duties in the courts,” the petition said.
Musharraf’s counsels maintained that the bar councils, bar associations and the legal team of the ex-COAS had time and again cried themselves hoarse for proper security mechanism in the courts.
“Had attention been paid to the fears expressed by the bars and the legal team, the horrific incident of the 3rd March would not have occurred.”
No proceedings of the Musharraf trial were held on Tuesday as the defence counsels argued that, being the members of the Supreme Court/high court bar associations, they were bound to follow their resolutions and directives.
“Failure to comply with their resolutions amounts to indiscipline, resulting in the loss of practitioners’ licences,” they asserted. The hearing was, therefore, adjourned till Wednesday (today).
The petition also stated that the 3rd March incident could recur on the premises of this court. “It is, therefore, dangerous for the legal team, especially for Pervez Musharraf and the judges, to attend the court where there is likelihood of such attacks,” they further contended.
It may also be added that Anwar Mansur Khan was attacked by two unidentified gunmen when he was on his way to the airport. Seemingly, the rush of people around his car and traffic foiled the attackers’ attempt.
The legal team’s stance was that the Special Court had heard applications regarding its composition, appointment of the judges and their alleged ‘bias’ and until orders on those applications were passed, it was pre-mature to summon Musharraf.
They said as the Bar was observing a seven-day mourning and strike in Islamabad, taking advantage of the respite period announced by the Pakistan Bar Council, arrangements be made to shift this court to a safe and secure venue and the security arrangements be satisfactorily beefed-up.
There is a general feeling that Musharraf’s legal team members should be provided with an adequate security individually as it is the talk of the town that Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Awan lost his life for not passing an order against Musharraf as prayed by the “Lal Masjid Shuhada Foundation”.
In the presence of such fear, General (r) Pervez Musharraf apprehends that he would not get justice under these circumstances.