A contempt petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Friday against former army chief and President Pervez Musharraf over violation of the apex court's directives seven years ago. The petitioner Shahid Orakzai filed his petition under Article 204 of the Constitution of Pakistan and Contempt of Court ordinance 2003, making General Pervez Musharraf (Retd) respondent.
Orakzai raised questions of law saying whether the order of the Supreme Court can be resisted by use of force or show of force - whether or not the army chief or any other officer mentioned in Article 243, can defy the order of the Supreme Court. The petitioner referred apex court's verdict of August 23, 2007 in a case of Pakistan Muslim League-N versus Federation of Pakistan which declared that Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his brother Mian Shahbaz Sharif, under Article 15 of the Constitution, have an inalienable right to enter and remain in country as citizens of Pakistan and their return to country shall not be restrained.
Orakzai further cited that Musharraf had defied the court's orders by using force at the Islamabad Airport after 18 days of the apex court verdict in the matter. "This criminal petition has a higher priority than the trumpeted high treason trial and the stay application attached to the petition and involves urgency," the petitioner submitted. The petitioner urged the court to initiate contempt proceedings against Musharraf in accordance with Constitution and law.