Petition challenges LHC verdict declaring Musharraf treason trial illegal

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday that challenged the Lahore High Court verdict declaring trial in the Musharraf treason case illegal.

The special court had sentenced former military dictator
Pervez Musharraf to death on December 17, 2019. The court announced the verdict
under Article 6 of the constitution.

The former president was indicted in the case in March 2014
for suspending the Constitution of Pakistan in 2007. In 2016, he left to seek
medical treatment in Dubai and hasn’t returned since.

On Jan 13, the Lahore High Court declared the trial in the
Musharraf treason case illegal. It ruled that the special court was not formed
according to the law.

Advocate Hamid Khan filed the petition in the apex court on
behalf of the petitioner, Taufeeq Asif.

The high court did not have the jurisdiction to hear a
petition against constitution of the special court, the petition said. It
didn’t correctly explain Article 6 of the 18th Amendment.

The petitioner noted that the former military dictator had
been absconding since 2016 which was why a trial in absentia had been ordered.

The high court cannot object to Supreme Court’s decision for
the trial in absentia, the petition said further. The verdict by the high court
appears to be disrespecting the chief justice’s advice.

The petitioner moved the court to declare the high court
verdict null and void.

Article source: https://www.samaa.tv/news/pakistan/2020/02/petition-challenges-lhc-verdict-declaring-musharraf-treason-trial-illegal/