Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): The Supreme Court on Thursday said that former president Pervez Musharraf — who is facing a treason case — can recorded his statement through a video link if he refuses to return to Pakistan.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa made the remarks during the hearing of a petition, stating that the proceedings of the treason case — being heard by a special court — had come to a halt since Musharraf had not returned to the country since 2016.
The chief justice said that Musharraf's statement could be recorded through a video link.
"If he still refuses to record a statement, then [the special court] can assume that he [Musharraf] has denied all charges," the top judge remarked, adding: "The special court can write 'denied' before every statement by the suspect."
On October 2018, the Lahore High Court (LHC) was informed that former military dictator declined to record his statement in a treason case via video link.
The former president’s lawyer told the court that the former military ruler wanted to appear before the court in person to provide evidence in his defence in the high treason. He said, “My client does not want to record his statement via video link but wants to appear in person to defend himself.”
Justice Ali asked the lawyer whether Musharraf had been diagnosed with cancer, to which the counsel responded that the former military ruler had been diagnosed with heart problems.
The prosecution witness then stated, “Musharraf has wasted the opportunity to record his statement under Section 342.”
“Musharraf says he is not a coward and not scared of anyone,” the counsel added.
A case was initiated against Musharraf─ who has been out of the country since March 2016 ─ for suspending the Constitution on Nov 3, 2007 ─ an offence for which he was indicted on March 31, 2014.
