An Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday remanded former military strongman Pervez Musharraf in judicial custody for 14 days at his farmhouse in the judges' detention case. ATC Judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi sent Pervez Musharraf on 14-day judicial remand and ordered police to produce him on the next hearing on May 4 after hearing arguments of Musharraf's lawyer and the counsel of the petitioner.
The court, in its one-page-long order, stated that the accused namely Pervez Musharraf was produced in custody of police from Secretariat Police Station. The investigating officer submitted an application, requesting the accused to be remanded to judicial lock up. Perusal of the available record showed the accused to have been "thoroughly interrogated" and his statement "recorded" by the investigation officer. "Prosecution, through investigation officer, requested for his remand to judicial lock up with a contention that the accused for the time being is no more required for the purpose of investigation."
"Therefore, keeping in view the request made by the prosecution and investigation officer, accused Pervez Musharraf is remanded to judicial lock up, who shall be produced before the court on May 4." During the proceeding, the petitioner's counsel, Ashraf Gujjar, requested the court to dismiss the police officials' plea for judicial remand and urged the court to give Musharraf physical remand.
He submitted that the accused is still required to be interrogated with regard to the events that took place as an outcome of the occurrence reported in the FIR. He also argued that the accused was presented in the court without handcuffs which is a malafide action.
Malik Qamar Afzal, the counsel for Pervez Musharraf requested the court for judicial custody of his client saying his client is voluntarily co-operating with the police and had recorded a statement soon after he reached Pakistan. He further submitted that the decision Musharraf is accused of was not taken by him exclusively but he is being victimised. Musharraf had appeared before the court to clear his position but the court cancelled his bail application, he said.
As soon as Musharraf left the court, lawyers followed him and chanted slogans against him and there were scuffles with Musharraf supporters. After the hearing, the security personnel escorted Pervez Musharraf outside the court from where he left for the Police Line Headquarters under tight security.
An official said that Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has declared farmhouse of former Pervez Musharraf in Chak Shahzad as sub-jail. Chief Commissioner Islamabad Tariq Mehmood Pirzada has also issued a notification in this regard, he said. Musharraf will be shifted to his farmhouse where he will spend 14 days of judicial remand. An Assistant Superintendent of Jails will be deployed at the farmhouse and all rules of a jail would be applicable, he said. The official said that the former president will not be allowed to hold any meetings without prior approval from the Chief Commissioner Islamabad.