Summary The Supreme Court of Pakistan has received a letter forwarded by the Ministry of Law.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News/ Web Desk) - The government requested the Supreme Court SC to appoint three judges for the special trial court.
According to the draft of the letter, the government has said that the apex court should decide names of judges for the special court that will initiate proceeding of trial of former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution.
Advocate Zulfiqar Naqvi will appear in the court on behalf of the government while the government has issued notification of his appointment.
The special court would be formed in Islamabad due to security reasons.
The special court will start the proceedings against Musharraf under the High Treason (Punishment) Act 1973.
Musharraf had declared state of emergency and suspended the constitution in 2007.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Sunday‚ Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan he said the Inquiry Committee formed by the Government to probe the 3rd November 2007 incident in the light of the Supreme Court submitted its report to the government on Saturday.
Chaudhry Nisar said the government studied the report and decided to request to Chief Justice of Pakistan for the purpose.
He said in the light of the report of the Committee submitted to the government yesterday‚ a case under article-6 of the Constitution can be initiated against former dictator‚ General Pervez Musharraf.
Musharraf, a former army chief, would be the first military ruler tried for treason in a country that has experienced three military coups in its 66-year history. He could face the death penalty or life in prison if he is convicted of treason, but some question whether the country s powerful army actually will let that happen.
Musharraf governed the country for nearly a decade after the 1999 coup but was forced to step down in 2008 after growing discontent with his rule. He left the country soon after.
He returned to Pakistan in March after years in self-imposed exile, with the hope of running in the national election that was held in May. But he was disqualified from participating in the vote because of his actions while in power and has spent most of his time battling legal cases.
Musharraf was held under house arrest for months after returning and was only freed earlier this month after he received bail in four other cases facing him. But he is still barred from leaving the country.
The other cases facing Musharraf involve his alleged role in the murder of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the death of a Baluch separatist leader killed by the army, the killing of a radical cleric and the detention of Pakistani judges.
