ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s top court has summoned former President Pervez Musharraf to explain his 2007 firing of several dozen independent-minded judges. Wednesday’s court notice allows Musharraf to send a lawyer in his place.
The case, br…
Posts Tagged ‘pervez musharraf’
Explain emergency, Musharraf told
July 22nd, 2009 |
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The Supreme Court of Pakistan has asked former President Pervez Musharraf to explain his decision in November 2007 to impose emergency rule.
The notice was issued after hours of debate in the courtroom over whether it was appropriate to make him a party to a case challenging his actions then.
He imposed emergency rule, suspended the constitution and dismissed about 60 judges after challenges to his power.
Mr Musharraf does not have to appear in person in court and can send a lawyer.
Politically sensitive
The court took the view that anybody whose actions were being discussed in a case had the right to be represented.
Correspondents say that the notice comes at a sensitive time in Pakistani politics, as Islamabad is under increasing US pressure to eliminate the Taliban and al-Qaeda along the Afghan border.
Mr Musharraf imposed emergency rule on 3 November 2007 when faced with growing challenges to his rule as president and weeks after his controversial re-election for a second term.
The judges who replaced the 60 who were dismissed may also lose their jobs if the court declares the presidential action illegal.
At the time of their appointment, they were asked to take a fresh oath of office under an interim constitutional order issued on the same day.
Petitioners have now challenged that order, and are pleading that judges who took the fresh oath be stopped from sitting on the bench.
Treason possibility
This will require the court to determine the legality of the president’s action, experts say.
Any decision which upholds the challenge will put pressure on the government to start legal action against Mr Musharraf for alleged high treason, they say.
The Supreme Court has constituted a 14-member bench to hear the case.
The bench comprises judges who were sacked in 2007 for refusing to take the fresh oath.
Most of them were reinstated by the newly elected government after August 2008, when Mr Musharraf resigned as president to avoid impeachment by parliament.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Musharraf calls for early settlement of “critical†Kashmir issue
July 21st, 2009 |
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Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has once again raised the issue of Kashmir, calling for an early settlement of the dispute.
Addressing a seminar at the Committee House of the British Parliament in London, Musharraf termed the issue as “criticalâ€, and said its resolution was the key to peace and prosperity in the region.
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Court in Pakistan acquits Sharif
July 17th, 2009 |
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Pakistan’s Supreme Court has acquitted opposition head Nawaz Sharif of hijacking charges, removing the final ban on him running for public office.
He was banned after being found guilty of hijacking then army chief General Pervez Musharraf’s plane in 1999.
Mr Sharif was prime minster when he sacked Gen Musharraf. He was toppled in an army coup soon afterwards.
Mr Sharif was tried by the Sindh high court. He has always maintained that the charges were politically motivated.
Mr Sharif’s government had ordered officials to divert Gen Musharraf’s plane away from Karachi and to a smaller city in Sindh.
While he was imprisoned, Mr Sharif agreed to go into exile under a deal with Gen Musharraf who had taken over as Pakistan’s president.
Mr Sharif ended his exile ahead of the 2008 elections but was prevented from contesting due to the court conviction.
In its ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court said there was no evidence to support the charge of hijacking and acquitted Mr Sharif.
Prosecutor Shahadat Awan was quoted by news agency Associated Press as saying that the court’s decision was unanimous. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Pakistan court acquits former PM Sharif of hijacking
July 17th, 2009 |
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Pakistan’s supreme court Friday overturned convictions against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for plane hijacking and terrorism, two months after reversing a ban on the opposition leader’s holding office. Sharif was convicted of “hijacking” a commercial jet carrying Pervez Musharraf
â€Lovers of Musharraf†planning grand London welcome for former dictator
July 14th, 2009 |
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A large group of Britons of Pakistani origin, comprising businessmen, professionals, academicians and intellectuals is giving finishing touches to a grand ‘welcome and launch’ event for former President Pervez Musharraf who has made London his temporary abode.
The group, which calls itself ‘Lovers of Musharraf’, is planning to hold the event on or around July [...]