Islamabad, (TLTP): Finally the Supreme Court has decided to take up plea of former army chief and President Pervez Musharraf against the objection of top court’s Registrar Office which expressed inability to entertain appeal against Special Court verdict against Musharraf in high treason case.
In December 2019, a SC-constituted special bench had awarded death sentence to Musharraf in absentia under Article 6 of the Constitution for the imposition of a state of emergency in Pakistan during 2007.
Filing appeal before Supreme Court, counsel for Musharraf urged the top court to set aside Special Court decision in the matter, however, Registrar Office raised objection over the plea on the grounds that under Supreme Court Rules 1980, a convict has to surrender to the authorities before invoking appellate jurisdiction of the top court.
Challenging the Registrar Office objection, Salman Safdar, counsel for Musharraf said that his client health was declining significantly; adding Musharraf requires specialised treatment abroad. Safdar further submitted that Musharraf has left the country after due permission on medical grounds. Appearing on behalf of Pervez Musharraf before Justice Umar Ata Bandial in an in-chamber hearing on Tuesday, Advocate Salman Safdar argued in favor of his client. After hearing of the arguments, Justice Umar Ata Bandial decided to fix the hearing before a three-member bench in an open court which will decide validity of objection raised by the Registrar Office in the matter.
