ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/KARACHI: The requirements for a fair trial under Article 10-A of the Constitution were not fulfilled in the Musharraf high treason case and the verdict was illegal, so the government would not oppose appeal against the Special Court verdict, said Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan on Tuesday.The Attorney General said this while addressing a press conference along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan."The requirements for a fair trial under Article 10-A have not been fulfilled," said the Attorney general. "It is not only that a fair trial must be held but also that it is seen to be fair," he said.He said that the trial was held in Musharraf's absence. The Attorney General said that when it was known that Musharraf was not present in the country, then why was the Decision announced in the case.The Attorney General said that when the incumbent government had tried to correct the mistakes of its predecessor, the court had taken a tough position on it."When the additional Attorney General went to court to present his arguments, he was told that he hadn't beenappointed by the federal government," said the Attorney general.The Attorney General said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had always stood for the rule of law and will continue to do so. "If a fair trial cannot be seen then the accused cannot be punished," said the Attorney general. "I will not defend any personality. Rather, I will defend the law," he added.Firdous Ashiq Awan said that there were some people who were celebrating the verdict of the Special Court and hoping for a clash between the institutions. "The same people who can be seen rejoicing on TV screens today were the same who had taken oath from Musharraf in 2009," she said.Dr Firdous said that it was important for everyone to realise that in the current situation, it was imperative for all institutions to be on the same page. She said the Pakistan Army had rendered countless sacrifices for the country. She said that Pakistan was being appreciated around the world for its economic stability in these times.Dr Firdous appreciated the Pakistan Army for supporting the civilian government. In an earlier, statement, Firdous Ashiq Awan said the government will consult its legal team before commenting on the Special Court decision.Talking to journalists here after a function, she said the government’s legal team would first have a review of the detailed judgement, covering its legal and political aspects prior to coming up with its viewpoint thereon.Dr Firdous continued that Prime Minister Imran Khan was also returning today (Wednesday) and he would review the legal framework of the judgement. She was asked for her comment on the judgement, to which she said to having heard about it but waiting for the details.Meanwhile, the opposition parties welcomed the Special Court verdict in high treason case against Pervez Musharraf, saying the Decision would ensure supremacy of the Constitution and strengthen democracy in the country.Talking to media persons, the PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal termed the Decision against Musharraf as historic. “Now we hope that the tradition of playing havoc with Constitution will come to an end,” he said.The PML-N leader observed that had such Decision taken 50 years back, the country could have averted martial laws. “Had the Decision given 50 years back, the tragedy of Fall of Dhaka would not have happened,” he said.The PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also declared the Decision against Musharraf as historic and tweeted that “democracy is a best revenge”.Bilawal repeated his mother ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s quote with her photo, “Democracy is best Revenge. Jiye Bhutto.”President National Party Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo also hailed the Special Court verdict. “It is really unprecedented that a retired General has been convicted, better late than never, it is,” said Bizenjo.Parliamentary leader of the PPP in Senate Sherry Rehman said the abrogation of the Constitution is a crime against state. “It’s our stance that the abrogation of the Constitution should not take place as it takes the country to reverse position,” she said.Sherry Rehman said when the courts take notice on abrogation of Constitution then why the questions are raised. “The PPP wants that the case of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and also the presidential reference on Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is heard,” she said.The PPP leader said Pakistan needs such Decision and this verdict proved the supremacy of the Constitution. The JI ameer Senator Sirajul Haq said the Special Court ruling in Musharraf's high treason case would ensure supremacy of Constitution and strengthen democracy in Pakistan.“Indeed it is great Decision in 72 years history of the country. The verdict will have far reaching impact on the future politics of Pakistan,” said the JI chief.Siraj added that the verdict would strengthen the people’s trust on the country’s judicial system. The JI chief demanded the government to make arrangements to bring the former dictator back to Pakistan. He also called for holding accountable those who had allowed Musharraf to go abroad. He said crimes of Musharraf were countless and one of the biggest was that he threw the country into an endless war on American pressure. He said the former dictator destroyed democracy and made attack on ideology of the country. He warned the PTI government against taking any step to save Musharraf, saying Imran Khan’s government will further lose its credibility if it tried to defend the former ruler.The JI naib ameer Liaquat Baloch demanded the government to immediately take measures to ensure presence of Musharraf in the country. He said judiciary earned more respect in the eyes of the public and now it was responsibility of the Parliament to take steps for supremacy of the Constitution and protection of democracy in the country.The PPP Secretary General Farhatullah Babar said the verdict of the Special Court may not shut the doors of adventurism permanently, but it will put on notice all tinpot dictators, future Bonaparts and adventurers to think multiple times before misadventure.Assefa Bhutto Zardari said on her Twitter account: "Tum zinda ho ker murdah ho; Woh murdah ho ker zinda hai. Ya Allah Ya Rasool, Benazir Bayqasoor." Former Senate chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari stated that for the first time since 1973, such precedent had been set up and stated that this verdict by the court proves that Constitution is supreme.The PPP leader Farooq H Naek termed the verdict historic. He said he would comment on it after going through the detailed judgment.The ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan said the judgment in the high treason case was a good omen for the democracy and supremacy of rule of law in the country.The ANP chief lamented that the incumbent government had tried to protect a dictator. Senior politician Makhdoom Javed Hashmi said people have won the fight for the protection of rule of law and Constitution after the historical verdict in high treason case.He paid rich tribute to the judiciary for convicting Musharraf with death sentence in the case.Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) in their brief statements showed disappointment over the court decision.Expressing the party’s reservations over the special court’s decision, leaders of the MQM-P, a key ally of Musharraf during his rule, said that Musharraf, who is severely ill, should be provided an opportunity to defend himself.“Is it justified that the people who broke the country and looted the country’s wealth have been termed loyal and a person who endangers his life for the country and develops the country during his rule has been termed traitor?" questioned Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the MQM-P’s convener and a federal minister.He said that Musharraf’s military services, as well as his efforts for the development of Karachi, are exemplary. “There are no charges of corruption and looting the government wealth against Musharraf,” he said.The MQM Pakistan spokesman said Article 6(2) of the Constitution categorically dictates that aider and abettor of any person accused of subverting the Constitution will also face the same fate but unfortunately the 17th December Decision of the special court didn't cover that.The spokesman wondered that imposing an emergency is unconstitutional yet humiliating and subverting different articles of Constitution every now and then by so-called democratic forces have been acceptable. The spokesman stressed that inter institutional solidarity is the need of the hour as the country is facing turmoil and any conflict can lead to political, institutional and economic instability, which should be avoided at all costs.The PSP categorically rejected the special court verdict, saying that due legal and constitutional formalities were not fulfilled in the process.The PSP held an emergency meeting that was chaired by its Chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal. It was agreed in the meeting that Article 6 clearly states that aiders and abettors will also be charged and prosecuted in the case of high treason which was not implemented in this particular case. The meeting said the so-called democratic forces that chant "democracy is the best revenge" are flawed. “They are acting as if they were flowing milk streams in Sindh,” the meeting noted.The meeting said it's during the so-called democratic period, the people in Sindh province are dying of dog bites and dengue epidemic. “These flawed democratic forces had first received the NRO from Musharraf, then took oath from him and later on gave him the guard of honour on his retirement,” the PSP leaders said.
12-18-2019, 08:33 AM
Decision illegal, won?t oppose appeal: Attorney General
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