Pak Supreme Court’s detailed verdict binds govt to prosecute Musharraf

October 1st, 2009 LAHORE - Unperturbed by the volley of cases being lodged against him for imposing emergency in the country in November 2007, former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that he would defend himself in Pakistani courts. A private television channel quoted Musharraf, as saying that he was ready to face all charges leveled against him.

September 21st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan president and military ruler Pervez Musharraf has said he would return to the country "when circumstances improve". Speaking to Geo TV from Philadelphia, Musharraf said he would return home under pleasant circumstances.

September 5th, 2009 QUETTA - A local court here has rejected the petition filed for registering a case against former President General Pervez Musharraf in connection with Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti's killing. The Sibi Session Court, in its verdict, said that since Bugti was killed in Taratani region, the case should be heard in the Kohlu District Court.

September 2nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Zafar Ali Shah has said the whole nation would demand mid-term term elections if the PPP-led government fails to try former President General Pervez Musharraf under Article Six of the Constitution. Criticising the Gilani government for not taking any substantial action against Musharraf, Shah said he would again move a petition seeking Musharraf's trial in the Supreme Court.

September 1st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who recently visited Saudi Arabia, has categorically denied meeting former President Pervez Musharraf. There were reports that Musharraf was in Saudi Arabia and Malik had met him there.

August 9th, 2009 KARACHI - A prominent Pakistani legal expert has said the PPP-led government should take the initiative to prosecute former president Pervez Musharraf for violating the constitution. The Dawn quoted former Supreme Court Bar Association President Aitzaz Ahsan, as saying that the apex court had declared Musharraf's as actions as illegal, but it could not try the former dictator since it was not a trial court.

August 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Although all the political parties in Pakistan have demanded the prosecution of former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for violating the country's constitution in 2007, but none except the PML-N are willing to bring the resolution to parliament for his trial. "We do not want politics of revenge.

August 7th, 2009 PESHAWAR - There is no need to pass a new parliamentary resolution to prosecute former Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf and his courtiers, as a High Treason (Punishment Act) already exists, Pakistani legal experts have said. The Daily Times quoted Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) Secretary-General Mohammad Essa Khan, as saying that there was no need to pass a resolution for trying a violator of the constitution if there were enough proofs against such a person.

August 3rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former President Pervez Musharraf could be tried by simple majority resolution of Parliament, Pakitan's Attorney General Latif Khosa has said. Replying to a question about action against former President Musharraf, the Attorney General said Parliament is supreme in this issue.

August 2nd, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri has advised the present government to take the route of justice and not vengeance in the case of former president Pervez Musharraf. The Daily Times quoted Kasuri, as saying that those who referred to Article 6(2) clearly stated that those who helped in the execution or conspiracy of the acts of abrogating or attempting to abrogate or subvert the constitution would be treated alike.

August 1st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Welcoming the Supreme Court's verdict declaring former President General Pervez Musharraf's November 3, 2007 actions as 'unconstitutional' and 'extra-judicial', both Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari have termed the decision as a "good omen". A statement issued by the Presidency after the apex court's verdict said: "The SC order is a 'triumph for democratic principles'." However, Musharraf has refrained from commenting on the verdict.

July 31st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - While Pakistan Chief Justice (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has clarified that the Supreme Court is competent to declare former President General Pervez Musharraf's November 3, 2007 steps as unconstitutional, it cannot award punishment to him because it falls under separate rules of law. Prosecution lawyer Akram Sheikh has said that Musharraf should be tried by the Army.

July 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Expressing satisfaction over the Supreme Court's verdict acquitting him in the plane hijacking case, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said he is grateful to the 'almighty Allah' for the decision. "Allah has determined the truth and now I would work day night for serving the people of Pakistan," Sharif said minutes after the apex court declared the Sindh High Court's (SHC) earlier verdict as null and void.

June 3rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Alleging that the former President General Prevez Musharraf was responsible for former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has urged the government to put the autocratic ruler on trial. The PML-N asked the government to register a first information report (FIR) against Musharraf for Bhutto's assassination and put his name on the Exit Control List (ECL), The Daily Times reports.

February 25th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Supreme Court Wednesday barred former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from contesting an elected office and declared the election of his younger brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, null and void. This has led to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in Punjab being dissolved.