Order on abettors in Musharraf's treason trial stayed

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday stayed the special court's Nov 21 order pertaining to inclusion of the names of former premier Shaukat Aziz, former law minister Zahid Hamid and former chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar as former president Pervez Musharraf's accomplices in the treason trial.

The decision was announced by Justice Athar Minallah in response to applications filed by Dogar and Hamid's counsels in the IHC, Dawn online reported.

In his petition before the IHC, Hamid -- who was the law minister in Musharraf's cabinet when the former army strongman imposed a state of emergency Nov 3, 2007 -- had not only distanced himself from the act itself, but also insisted on a "solo trial" for the former president.

Meanwhile, Justice Dogar had insisted in his application that he had no role in the imposition of emergency Nov 3, 2007.

After issuing the order, the case's hearing was subsequently adjourned to Feb 3.

On Nov 21, the special court hearing the treason case against Musharraf had included Aziz, Hamid and Dogar as Musharraf's abettors in the treason trial.

The order had come as the court disposed of a request filed by the former president calling for the trial of abettors.

Musharraf had also demanded that the civilian leadership and the military authorities that allegedly abetted in the imposition of the emergency should also be tried along with him.

Musharraf had imposed the emergency after consulting the then prime minister, the governors of all four provinces and the chairman of joint chiefs of staff committee, the chiefs of the armed forces, the vice-chief of army staff and the corps commanders of the Pakistan Army.