Special court seeks details of Musharraf’s properties

ISLAMABAD: A special court hearing the high treason case filed against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has sought a detailed list of all properties owned by the former army chief within a month.

The special court comprises Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Tahira Safdar of the Balochistan High Court and Justice Yawar Ali of the Lahore High Court.

Justice Tahira did not attend Friday’s hearing.

Justice Afridi has replaced Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel on the court.

Petitions filed by the former COAS’ wife Sehba Musharraf and daughter Ayla Musharraf were also heard by the court.

The prosecution was ordered to file a written reply on the petitions. Officials of the interior ministry were directed to come prepared at the next hearing and submit reports compiled by various departments regarding Musharraf’s properties.

The ministry’s officials informed the court that they had sent letters to the departments concerned in this regard, adding that some had responded while other replies were awaited.

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Lead prosecutor Akram Sheikh asked the special court to seize Musharraf’s properties in London as well.

Justice Afridi told him to file his contentions in writing.

The bench also asked Sheikh to file a synopsis of the matter within seven days.

Earlier, counsel appearing on behalf of the Musharraf family Chaudhry Faisal Hussain did not appear before the bench because of pressing family engagements.

During the hearing, Justice Afridi said that it was yet to be determined whether the court could issue directives to confiscate the properties.

Akram Sheikh said that in the previous hearings, district revenue officers had been ordered to furnish details of Musharraf’s properties in their jurisdictions.

Contending that confiscating properties was vital, the prosecutor maintained that this had no precedent.

According to him, the court had been hearing the case since December 13, 2013, and on several occasions, the case was heard on a daily basis.

Justice Afridi noted that the arrest warrants of the accused had been issued. Akram Sheikh said the court was empowered to take harsher action than arrest warrants.

He said that Musharraf had gone abroad for three weeks for a medical check-up, but a video released purported to show him in good health.

Source: The Express Tribune