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Major relief to Musharraf; Panel says he can’t be tried under anti-terrorism act

Former military ruler of Pakistan Parvez Musharraf: File Pic
Former military ruler of Pakistan Parvez Musharraf: File Pic

A Joint Interrogation Team (JIT) formed to investigate Pakistan’s former military ruler Parvez Musharraf’s role in the judges detention case during the 2007 emergency has said in its preliminary report that the former president cannot be tried under Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 as directed by Islamabad High Court.

Islamabad, May 15/Nationalturk – In what could prove to a major relief for beleaguered former military ruler of Pakistan Parvez Musharraf, who is presently under detention, a Joint Interrogation Team (JIT) formed to investigate his role in the judges detention case during the 2007 emergency has said in its preliminary report that the former president cannot be tried under Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 as directed by Islamabad High Court.

The Islamabad High Court had recently directed that Musharraf should be booked under the anti-terror law for detaining dozens of judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. The police subsequently arrested him and charged him under the law.

Pakistan newspaper, The News, quoted sources as saying that during questioning, Musharraf told JIT that he said he did not issue the order on October 3 2007. “Neither judges complained to me regarding this, nor did they register any FIR. Two years later a third person, a lawyer, lodged an FIR at a time when I was abroad and I only came to know about it in 2013”, he told the interrogators.

I didn’t issue any written, verbal order: Musharraf

He told interrogators that he did not issue any written or verbal order regarding detention of judges “Issuing detaining order of judges was neither my job nor was I informed about it,” added Musharraf.

Sources said JIT has submitted its preliminary report to Inspector General Police (IGP) Islamabad office for further action.

“The report has that section 7 is not admissible as it is the prerogative of investigation authorities to analyse whether or not this section can be applied. From the given information and interrogation of Musharraf, no evidence is available that could lead to the application of this clause. In order to establish a case, the statements of detained judges are also required and may be cross-examined,” they said.

They said a person can be tried under section 7 of ATA if he does anything likely to cause death, endanger life, cause grievous bodily harm or injury and damage property etc.

 

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News

 

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