Head of prosecution team withdraws from Musharraf treason case

Head of prosecution team withdraws from Musharraf treason case
Former military dictator Gen. (retired) Pervez Musharraf was indicted by special court in high treason case for abrogation of constitution by promulgation of emergency rule in the country on Nov. 3, 2007. (AP/file)
Updated 31 July 2018
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Head of prosecution team withdraws from Musharraf treason case

Head of prosecution team withdraws from Musharraf treason case
  • A high treason case was lodged against former President Gen. (retired) Pervez Musharraf for his role in the promulgation of emergency rule in the country on Nov. 3, 2007
  • Senior advocate Akram Sheikh was appointed head of the prosecution team by Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government

ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistan lawyer has withdrawn himself as chief prosecutor from the high treason case against former military ruler Gen. (retired) Pervez Musharraf.
Akram Sheikh was appointed as head of the prosecution team by the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government which is no longer in power.
In his resignation letter sent to the interior secretary on Monday, Sheikh expressed his inability to proceed with the case after the imminent change of government at the center, the local daily newspaper Dawn reported.
“If the PTI wanted to continue with the case, it could engage a lawyer to proceed with the case,” Sheikh was quoted as saying by Dawn.
The outgoing PML-N government had lodged a high treason case against the former president soon after coming to power in 2013.
Musharraf was indicted by the special court in the case for abrogation of constitution by promulgation of emergency rule in the country on Nov. 3, 2007. However, the special court could not proceed against the former army chief as Islamabad High Court stayed the decision and Musharraf was allowed to leave the country.
The special court resumed hearing of the case earlier this year and ordered the blocking of Musharraf’s Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) and passport in May.
Now that the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) is likely to form the next government, it will choose how to pursue the case against Musharraf.
Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League withdrew its candidate, Muhammad Amja, in support of PTI chief Imran Khan in NA-53 constituency of Islamabad in the recent general elections.