Treason case: Court reserves order on providing FIA report to accused

ISLAMABAD: The Special Court on Friday resumed hearing the petitions seeking treason case against former president General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf and reserved the order on providing the investigative report of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to the accused, Geo News reported.

The three-judge bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab and comprising Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali Khan heard the case today.

During today’s hearing, lawyer of former president Farogh Nasim argued that there is an official secret act in the country. Tariq Hassan said that he is not claiming that the investigative report is secret under the official secret act.

Justice Faisal Arab remarked that had it been a secret, the report would not have broadcasted on the media.

Barrister Farogh Nasim said demanded that not only the FIA report should be handed over to him, but all the relevant documents should also be provided.

He, then, challenged the complete process of the proceedings under Article 6 and questioned that how the inquiry was initiated, who ordered the inquiry and what were the findings of the investigation.

The court, later, saved the order on providing the FIA report to the accused and adjourned the hearing till April 28.

On Thursday, Barrister Farogh Nasim had requested the court to order government to provide him with the FIA report. He had told the court that he will submit his reply on prosecutor Akram Sheikh’s arguments and requested the court to use its authority and order the government to provide him the investigative report submitted by the FIA.

Prosecutor Akram Sheikh, however, denied to hand over the investigative report to the accused party.

Barrister Farogh Nasim argued that the Special Court Act is not comprehensive and that is why the Supreme Court had ordered for criminal proceedings in the case.

On March 31, Musharraf was formally charged for subverting the Constitution by imposing emergency on November 3, 2007. Musharraf had rejected all the charges levelled against him.