Pakistan’s former military ruler Parvez Musharraf was Saturday sent to 14-days judicial remand by an anti-terrorism court in connection with 2007 judges’ arrests case.
Islamabad, April 20/Nationalturk – In a further blow to embattled former Pakistan military ruler Parvez Musharraf, an anti-terrorism court Saturday sent him to 14-days judicial remand in connection with 2007 judges’ arrests case.
Musharraf, who spent the night in police headquarters under detention, was presented in an anti-terrorism court in connection with judges’ arrests case this morning.
The court sent him to 14-days judicial remand. He will again be presented in the same court on May 4.
Musharraf’s lawyer Malik Qamar Afzal told reporters the anti-terrorism court judge has sent him to judicial remand.
After the verdict, Musharraf was again escorted to police headquarters, where he is facing detention since yesterday.
Dr Amjad, General Secretary of Musharraf’s party – All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) – told reporters that former military ruler’s morale was high and he was prepared to present himself in all required courts.
Asked whether former Musharraf can be sent to Adiala jail in Islamabad, he said, “If security is at risk, any place can be declared a sub-jail. This is administration’s job to decide where he can get the best security while in custody”.
Musharraf’s counsel Ahmed Raza Kasuri said they may file another petition in the Supreme Court against the inclusion of the 7-Anti Terrorism Act in First Information Report against the former military ruler in judge’s arrests case.
APML Additional Secretary General Chaudhry Shafiq said the party will kick start peaceful movement across country against Musharraf’s arrest.
“ Senior leaders of APML will hold peaceful rallies across the country, with retired army officials and civil society activists raising their voice against the injustice that took place against Musharraf,” he said.
Army should intervene: Musharraf’s aide
Meanwhile, according to Pakistan’s newspaper Express Tribune, in a related development, Major General (Retd) Rashid Qureshi, a close friend of former president asked top military leadership to intervene in the issue before tensions between state institutions get worse.
“Enough is enough. Judicial activism will not be tolerated anymore,” he said.
He said Musharraf will continue to face courts until he gets justice. “We will fight legally, morally and politically against injustice in Pakistan.”
Qureshi said a movement has apparently been started by some elements to degrade retired military generals as well as top spymasters.
A senior APML leader also urged army to intervene. “As the civilian government continues to humiliate Musharraf, we request the top military leadership to support him”.
Judges’ detention case
The judge detention case against Musharraf case based on an FIR registered in August 11, 2009 on the complaint of Chaudhry Mohammad Aslam Ghumman advocate.
He had asked police to initiate legal proceedings against Musharraf for detaining over 60 judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, after proclamation of a state of emergency in the country on November 3, 2007.
The case is one of three against Musharraf in Pakistani courts. He is also accused of involvement in a conspiracy to murder Benazir Bhutto in 2007. He is also accused of involvement in killing of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Khan Bugti in 2006.
Musharraf returned to Pakistan last month after nearly four years of self-imposed exile to contest the May 11 general election.
However, Pakistan’s Election Commission has barred him from contesting the elections, much to the disappointment of Musharraf and his supporters.
“All looters are allowed to contest elections—then why not Musharraf?” asked APML general secretary Dr Amjad.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
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