Pervez Musharraf's treason case adjourned to Feb 18

Islamabad, Jan 8: A Pakistan court Thursday adjourned the hearing of a treason case against former president Pervez Musharraf to Feb 18.

A three-member court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court (SHC), resumed the hearing during which Musharraf's lawyer presented his arguments, Dawn online reported.

The prosecuting lawyer pleaded to the bench that while the decision of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against Musharraf might stand, the special court be allowed to function.

On Nov 21, the Islamabad High Court restrained the special court from hearing the case after the three co-accused -- former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, then law minister Zahid Hamid and then chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar -- who advised Musharraf to impose Emergency in 2007, were included in the case.

The order came as the court disposed of a request filed by the former president calling for the trial of abettors during the November 2007 actions.

Musharraf had also demanded that the civilian leadership and the military authorities that allegedly abetted in the imposition of Emergency Nov 3, 2007, should also be tried along with him.

In the "high treason" case against the former president, the government has charged Musharraf with abrogating, subverting, suspending, holding in abeyance and attempting to conspire against the constitution by declaring Emergency and overthrowing the superior judiciary in November 2007.

IANS