SC orders to fix Musharraf’s plea
Statesman Report
ISLAMABAD: The apex court on Tuesday directed its registrar office to fix, in open court, a plea by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf challenging the registrar’s decision to not entertain his plea against the special court’s high treason verdict.
During an in-chamber hearing, Musharraf’s counsel Salman Safdar appeared to present arguments. However, Justice Umar Ata Bandial fixed the matter to be heard by a three-member bench.
In December 2019, an SC-constituted special bench had sentenced Musharraf to death in absentia under Article 6 of the Constitution for the imposition of a state of emergency in 2007.
A month later, the former army chief approached the apex court seeking to overturn the high treason verdict. But the RO returned Musharraf’s plea after raising an objection under Supreme Court Rules 1980 that says a convict has to surrender to the authorities before filing an appeal.