Musharraf’s petition seeking to stop verdict in high treason case

The Lahore High Court on Tuesday accepted a petition to hear the plea from the ailing former military ruler Pervez Musharraf seeking to stop the special court from announcing its reserved verdict in the high treason case against him on Thursday, according to media reports.

Justice Syed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi of the Lahore High Court (LHC) removed its objections and admitted Dubai-based Musharraf’s petition for hearing, the Dawn News reported. The LHC also sought replies from the federal government and the Ministry of Interior by November 28. A separate petition was also filed by the interior ministry in the Islamabad High Court to stop the special tribunal from issuing its verdict in the treason case against Musharraf.

On Monday Justice Naqvi had directed Musharraf’s lawyer Khwaja Ahmed to give arguments regarding the maintainability of the petition. The LHC had questioned whether the plea falls under its jurisdiction as the 76-year-old former president is a resident of Islamabad, the Geo News reported. The court had also said that the case is with the Supreme Court and under the circumstances the petitioner should reach out to the apex court.