Musharraf addressed nation as President: prosecution witness tells special court

The last prosecution witness submitted before a Special Court trying former army chief and President Pervez Musharraf in high treason case that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) probe team had reached a conclusion that no summary of the then Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, through which he advised Pervez Musharraf to impose emergency on November 3, 2007, existed.
Defence counsel Dr Farogh Nasim cross-examined the Additional Director General of the FIA Khalid Qureshi, the head of investigation team in a high treason case in front of a three-member Special Court of Justice Faisal Arab on Tuesday. Qureshi however replied that it was correct to say that Musharraf addressed the nation on November 3, 2007 as President of Pakistan. Qureshi that it was incorrect to say that the FIA probe team had intentionally concealed information relating to an advice or any letter written by Aziz to Musharraf in relation to imposition of emergency in the country.
Qureshi apprised the court that the record of any summary with advice that the prime minister sent to the presidency was always kept with the Prime Minister's Secretariat. "It is incorrect to say that investigation was initiated against former army chief and President Pervez Musharraf without following or understanding the relevant provisions of the law," Qureshi said during his cross-examination.
He further said that in accordance with the relevant provisions of the law, DG FIA could exercise powers of Police in probing a matter, adding that nobody had sent draft of the investigation but it was the JIT of the FIA that finalised the report in the matter on November 16 last year. Citing a verdict of July 31 by the apex court in the emergency matter, Qureshi said that Supreme Court had unequivocally declared that Shaukat Aziz had nothing to do with emergency saying he had not seen any copy of advice or summary sent by him to Musharraf for imposition of emergency. Later, the court adjourned the hearing of case till September 17 (today).