Musharraf should be allowed to see ailing mother in Dubai: Lawyer

Dubai Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday resumed hearing of five identical petitions against former Pervez Musharraf seeking his trial under Article 6 of the Constitution for imposing emergency and subverting the Constitution in 2007.

Musharraf was not summoned to personally appear in the court as his lawyers represented him before a two-member bench comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain.

On Monday, the caretaker government refused to put Musharraf on trial for treason, telling the court that it was beyond its mandate.

During today’s hearing, Counsel for Pervez Musharraf, Ibrahim Satti advocate and Ahmed Raza Kasuri turned up for contention.

Satti said that putting the name of his client on Exit Control List (ECL) is violation of fundamental rights.

He said that how would it be possible for Musharraf to leave for Dubai to enquire after the health of his 95-year-old mother who is seriously ill.

At which, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain said an application could be filed if Musharraf’s travel to Dubai is absolutely necessary.

During the course of hearing, Karsuri said that Musharraf has reservations over Justice Jawad S.Khwaja’s inclusion in the bench.

Earlier, amid high security, Musharraf was presented before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Rawalpindi for hearing in the murder case of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto.

The former army ruler was brought to the Rawalpindi District Court from his Chak Shahzad farmhouse of Islamabad which is declared sub-jail where he has been confined on 14-day judicial remand.

Scuffles between dozens of lawyers and supporters of Pervez Musharraf took place outside the court where both the sides chanted slogans against each other.

Musharraf returned last month after nearly four years of self-imposed exile to take part in May 11 general elections despite the possibility of arrest on various charges and death threats from the Pakistani Taliban.