The counsel for former army chief Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday refused to appear before the Special Court trying Musharraf on high treason charges with a plea that judges and lawyers dealing with this case must be provided with adequate security. The Defence lawyers met the Special Court's registrar, showing a deep concern over the current security arrangements and filed an application to change the venue of the court on grounds of recent terrorist attack on Islamabad District and Sessions Courts.
They also prayed the Special Court to grant exemption to their client Musharraf from making appearance before the court due to security threats. The application was filed through the defence counsel who included; Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Sahibzada Ahmed Raza Khan Kasuri, Anwar Mansoor Khan, Dr Khalid Ranjha, Rana Ijaz Ahmed Khan, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Muhammad Siddique Mirza, Saqlain Haider Awan and Faisal Hussain Chaudhry.
The counsel submitted, "Adequate security be given to the members of defence team individually - largely when the street talk is that the learned District and Session Judge of the Islamabad Court lost his life for not passing order against the respondent as prayed by the "Lal Masjid's Shuhda Foundation". They prayed that in the presence of lurking fear their client Musharraf showed apprehension that he would not be able to get justice under the umbrella of terror. "In the circumstances, it is most respectfully submitted that appropriate orders be passed and until secure and proper arrangements are made the proceedings be adjourned sine die in the interest of justice," the counsel prayed.