Summary Prosecutor Akram Sheikh submits his written testimony in the special court in Islamabad.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prosecutor Akram Sheikh submitted his written testimony in the special court in Islamabad on Thursday, Dunya News reported. According to Sheikh, the record tampering allegations are baseless and ridiculous. He demanded the rejection of defense counsel’s application.
The hearing of Musharraf treason case was led by Justice Faisal Arab in a three-member special court in Islamabad. The original tape of Musharraf’s emergency speech was shown in the court. Both English and Urdu versions of the speech were presented.
The prosecutor Akram Sheikh submitted his written testimony in response to the defense counsel’s application requesting the court to take custody of all the official records.
The defense counsel claimed dealing with records with full honesty. In response, Akram Sheikh labeled the allegations of record tampering as baseless. He said that FIA has not ordered any roznamcha, instead 9 diaries have been sought which can be presented in court in sealed envelopes. He demanded cancellation of defense counsel’s application calling it unfounded. Justice Arab said that in case the defense counsel disagrees, the court will not permit presenting the diaries as evidence.
The court was adjourned till 12 August.
Earlier on Wednesday, special courts had directed the prosecutor to present the original video cassette of Pervez Musharaff’s November 3, 2007 speech. The court has issued a notice to the prosecutor on the request of taking the defendant counsel’s records into custody.
The treason case against former president Pervez Musharaff was presided over by Justice Faisal Arab in the special court. On the commencement of the case hearing, member of the investigative team of Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) Maqsoodul Hassan was brought before court for testification. While getting his statement recordered, Maqsood said that he was made the member of the investigative team on July 27, 2013. Later, letters were written to the Presidency, Prime Minister Secretariat, law division, cabinet division and other relevant institutions to provide all the documents regarding the enforcement of November 3 emergency.
Maqsoodul Hassan informed the court that documents including the directives of PCO from PM Secretariat, enforcement of emergency, notification for the former president to keep two offices, appointment of former Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar were all presented on August 2, 2013.
Section officer of the law division provided the documents regarding the impeachment of the judges and appointment of the new judges on August 6, 2013 whereas a letter had been written to one of the officers at the cabinet division in order to provide the minutes of all the high level meetings held regarding the promulgation of emergency rule imposed on November 3.
In response to the letter, all the documents were provided before the inquiry committee on September 16. Maqsoodul Hassan further stated that DG Coordination of the Presidency had provided the notification of appointment of Mohsin Hafiz as secretary to the president and Sharifuddin Peerzada as advisor to the president.
Witness told the court that when former Governor Punjab Khalid Maqbool was contacted to get his statement recorded, he sent in a written statement instead, that states that the former President Pervez Musharraf did not take him into confidence regarding imposition of emergency rule on November 3.
As the statement of the witness was being recorded, Farogh Naseem, defense lawyer, expressed apprehension that FIA might manipulate the record. The record therefore should be taken in the custody of the court. He further requested for the tapes of Musharraf’s November 3, 2007 speech.
Furnishing the request the court asked for an explanation from the prosecutor and ordered that the original tapes should be provided in the court which would also be heard.
