Islamabad (Staff Report): The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the formation of a judicial commission to record former military dictator retired Gen Pervez Musharraf’s statement in a treason case.
The commission will go abroad to record his statement in accordance with Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The decision came after the former military dictator declined to record his statement via video link.
A LHC bench headed by Chief Justice Justice Yawar Ali comprising, Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Nazar Akbar heard the high treason case against Musharraf.
The former president’s lawyer told the court that the former military ruler wanted to appear before the court in person to provide evidence in his defence in the high treason. He said, “My client does not want to record his statement via video link but wants to appear in person to defend himself.”
Justice Ali asked the lawyer whether Musharraf had been diagnosed with cancer, to which the counsel responded that the former military ruler had been diagnosed with heart problems.
The prosecution witness then stated, “Musharraf has wasted the opportunity to record his statement under Section 342.”
“Musharraf says he is not a coward and not scared of anyone,” the counsel added.
A case was initiated against Musharraf─ who has been out of the country since March 2016 ─ for suspending the Constitution on Nov 3, 2007 ─ an offence for which he was indicted on March 31, 2014.