Special Court to prepare questionnaire for Musharraf to record his statement in treason case

ISLAMABAD: The Special Court constituted to try former President Pervez Musharraf in the high treason case over abrogating the Constitution by proclamation of emergency in country on November 3, 2007, on Monday decided to prepare a questionnaire to record his statement.

The three-member Special Court bench headed by Justice Tahira Safdar accepted the credentials of Salman Safdar as Musharraf’s counsel.

The court directed that a questionnaire should be prepared for Musharraf.

Defence counsel Salman Safdar opposed recording the former president's statement through video link or a commission.

He said Pervez Musharraf was ill and his statement could not be recorded through video link as his presence was mandatory. The statements of eight witnesses were recorded in his absence, he added.

The court, however, rejected his argument, observing the statements of witnesses were recorded in his presence.

The prosecution’s counsel, however, said the former president did not want to record his statement. The course of law could not be hindered and the court should proceed with the trial, he added.

The court adjourned the hearing till March 28.