Musharraf’s plea to leave country for treatment abroad dismissed

The special court trying former military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Monday dismissed his both petitions seeking permission to leave the country to see his ailing mother in Sharjah and for treatment of his heart ailment in the United States.

A three-member bench led by Justice Faisal Arab had earlier in the morning indicted Musharraf on five counts of subversion of the constitution by imposing emergency in November 2007 and dismissing dozens of judges of superior courts.

The bench responding to the petitions filed on behalf of Musharraf by new counsel Farogh Nasim, ruled that Musharraf is a free citizen who is currently lodged in Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) for treatment of his own free will. His name has been put on exit control list (ECL) by the Federal government and not by the court.

Federal Railways Minister Saad Rafiq said Musharraf would not be allowed to leave the country adding that the ex-general must face cases in Pakistani courts.

Eminent jurist and PPP leader Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan commenting on Musharraf’s efforts to go abroad for treatment said if his request is granted it would set a bad precedent. He said Musharraf should come out of military hospital where he has taken refuge for the past nearly 90 days without any specific ailment.

Earlier in the morning, Musharraf replaced his legal team and chose prominent advocate Farogh Nasim, who is also an MQM senator. Referring apparently to acts of misbehaviour in the court by the previous team, Nasim assured the court that nothing amounting to disrespect of the court will now be said or done. Justice Arab said the court recognises the assumption that Musharraf had not instructed his previous lawyers to misbehave in the court.

Meanwhile, Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar said on Monday that requirement of justice was not being fulfilled in treason trial of former president Pervez Musharraf.

Addressing a gathering in Karachi, Sattar said Article 6 should be implemented in the Musharraf trial in letter and spirit.