Law ministry secretary summoned by IHC

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday summoned secretary Ministry of Law and Justice in response to a petition filed by Ministry of Interior against the Special Court's decision to reserve its verdict against former army chief General Pervez Musharraf (retd) in the high treason case.

A three-member bench of the IHC headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing of the case and deferred the proceedings till Wednesday (today) after issuing aforementioned directions.

During the course of hearing, Justice Athar stated the court would only hear Ministry of Interior's petition and not of Musharraf filed before Special Court which has declared him a proclaimed offender as per law.

Additional Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti informed the bench about the details of formation of the prosecution team in 2013. Then the bench asked from the AAG, "Do you know the Supreme Court orders?" The bench added that he is representing the federal government and he should be aware of the facts of the case. Then the bench asked the representative of the Interior Ministry to read the relevant decision of the Supreme Court. The AAG told the court that he had just received the case file. Justice Athar remarked, "The additional attorney general is unaware of the facts of the case. Call someone who knows the background of the case, a representative from the Ministry of Law and Justice who knows the case."

Later, the court directed the secretary law and justice to appear before the court in person with relevant record today (Wednesday) and adjourned the hearing.

A three-member Special Court headed by Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth and comprising Justice Nazar Akbar and Justice Shahid Kareem had reserved the verdict on November 19 which will be announced on November 28.