Over an objection petition filed by Begum Sehba Pervez Musharraf against confiscation of her husband's properties in the wake of a high treason case against him, the Special Court on Friday asked the prosecutor and Musharraf's wife to file synopsis of their arguments in the matter.
A three-member Special Court bench, headed by Justice Yahya Afridi and comprising Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali, was scheduled to hear the objection plea regarding attachment of Musharraf's properties. However, Justice Tahira Safdar was not present in the bench.
Begum Sehba Pervez Musharraf and her family in their petition filed through their counsel Faisal Hussain Chaudhry pleaded that the immovable properties of Musharraf had been gifted to his wife and daughter before adjudication of high treason case and hence the properties in question were owned by them. She has also requested the court to revoke the attachment order and not to treat his husband as an absconder because he (Musharraf) left the country purely on medical grounds.
During the course of proceedings, appearing before the bench of Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Yawar Ali, prosecutor Akram Sheikh urged the court to issue directives to seize Musharraf's properties in London, as well. However, Justice Yahya Afridi asked the prosecutor to file written reply in response to the objection pleas in the matter, whereas the bench sought details about Pervez Musharraf from the Federal Interior Ministry.
Counsel for Sehba Musharraf submitted that an adjournment application has been filed on behalf of her client. The bench issued notices to prosecutor and the respondent in the matter. When the bench observed that the question before the court is whether it could direct confiscation of the properties, Akram Sheikh pleaded that the court during the previous hearings had issued directives to district revenue officers for furnishing details of Musharraf's properties falling in their respective districts.
Responding to the observation of Justice Yahya Afridi that arrest warrants of the accused have been issued, Akram Sheikh submitted that the court is empowered to issue more strict orders than arrest warrants. Akram Sheikh alleged that Musharraf went abroad for three weeks in connection with his medical check-up, but now he is dancing in America and do not appear to be ill. He requested the bench to complete hearing over the objection petition during the next hearing to which Justice Yahya Afridi said the bench shall hear all the objections of the prosecution.
During the proceedings, an official of the Interior Ministry apprised the court that in response to correspondence with various departments concerning Musharraf's properties, some had responded and some didn't, adding that the ministry also came to know about two vehicles of ex-army chief Musharraf and Begum Sehba Musharraf. The court was further informed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not provided details of Musharraf's properties. Justice Afridi issued directives to the officials the Interior Ministry to come up with all the details during the next hearing. The bench issued directives to all parties of the case to file required documents a week before the next hearing and adjourned the case till May 5.
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