Hearing of Musharraf high treason case resumes

A special court in Pakistan formed to try former president Pervez Musharraf for high treason resumed its hearing Thursday.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab heard the arguments of Akram Sheikh, chief prosecuting lawyer, who said the court had ordered the formation of an investigating team comprising honest people in the case, the Dawn online reported.

Sheikh said the investigating officer could appear before the bench if required and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had not interfered in the probe of the case.

Earlier, the court granted Musharraf exemption from appearance until Jan 23 and ordered the constitution of a medical board to assess his health.

It ordered the medical board to submit a report on the former army chief by Jan 24.

Anwar Mansoor, Musharraf's counsel, presented his arguments over the constitution of the special court and the way the case was registered against the former military chief.

Mansoor said the Constitution of Pakistan had defined the government as the prime minister and his cabinet, further saying that the administration implemented its authority via the cabinet and not through the establishment division.

He added that the cabinet's authority could not be delegated to a secretary and the constitution had defined the powers that could be delegated to a secretary.

The Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistani government set up the special court to try the former military ruler on charges of high treason for imposing Emergency and subverting the constitution in 2007.

Musharraf has been charged with abrogating, subverting, suspending, holding in abeyance and attempting to conspire against the 1973 Constitution by declaring Emergency and detaining judges of the superior courts.