ISLAMABAD - The prosecution seemed to be losing interest in the high treason case against General (retd) Pervez Musharraf as all its senior counsels, including head Akram Sheikh, did not appear on Tuesday’s court proceedings.

A junior lawyer of the prosecution team informed a three-judge bench of Special Court that its order of declaring former army chief proclaimed offender has been affixed outside his residences in Karachi, Islamabad and also at the door of the court.

Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, who presided over the Special Court proceeding, issued notice to interior secretary, complainant of the case, under section 6 of Criminal Law Amendment (Special Court) Act 1976 to explain why he failed to submit list of Musharraf’s properties in Pakistan. The prosecution was directed to provide the list of Musharraf’s properties on or before July 19.

The Special Court in the last hearing had asked the prosecution to provide the list of Musharraf’s properties that if its orders are not complied with then as next step the ex-COAS properties could be attached.

Dilshad Baqir, who has replaced Mubarik Shah as Joint Secretary Ministry of Interior, informed that the list could not be prepared as he had read the court order yesterday (July 11). Baqir took charge from Mubarik Shah on May 25.

Justice Mazhar Alam expressing annoyance over the non-compliance of order said they had issued the order two months ago but the new joint secretary read it yesterday. He said Ministry of Interior is the complainant in this case besides that it is taking no action. The judge asked Baqir that you had taken charge on May 25 then there is no excuse that he could not prepare list of Musharraf properties, so why not they proceed against him.

Musharraf’s counsel came to the rostrum and wanted to argue. However, Justice Mazhar Alam asked them why they were before the court in the absence of their client.

Ahmed Raza Kasuri, representing the former general, said: “We have to defend many things as the court had directed the prosecution to provide list of Musharraf properties so those could be attached.”

He said the list may carry properties which are not in the name of Musharraf but he could be one of the co-sharers. He further pleaded that they wanted to take the case to its logic end.

Justice Mazhar said it means Musharraf is aware what’s happening in the proceeding and he intentionally not appearing before the court. He said there is no need of representing Musharraf when he does not want to appear before the court. Kasuri argued that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif, being the complainant, lived abroad for 40 days. Justice Mazahar stopped him from saying this and remarked it is a political issue.

The case is adjourned till July 19.

After the proceeding, while talking to media persons, Ahmed Raza Kasuri said no one should be punished unheard. He said unless the court passes a written order they would appear before the court. He, however, failed to reply to a question that how many cases were in the past where an accused is declared proclaimed offender and his lawyers appeared before the court.

He also did not reply when asked Musharraf went abroad in emergency for surgery, why it didn’t take place despite the lapse of three months.