Return to Pakistan, there're good doctors here: CJ to Musharraf
"There are good doctors in Pakistan," Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Saqib Nisar told Pervez Musharraf today as he directed the Dubai-based former dictator to appear before the apex court to record his statement in the treason case against him. General (Retd) Musharraf, 75, who has been living in Dubai since 2016, is facing the treason case for suspending the Constitution in 2007.
Musharraf went to Dubai for treatment, hasn't returned since
Musharraf left for Dubai in Mar'16 for medical treatment and has not returned since, citing security and health reasons. The Chief Justice's cryptic remarks came as he headed a bench hearing the case related to National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), passed by Musharraf in 2007.
What is National Reconciliation Ordinance?
The NRO granted amnesty to politicians and other individuals by quashing various corruption and criminal cases against them so they could return to the country and engage in the democratic process. Musharraf's lawyer Akhtar Shah told the court, "I request the bench to keep my client's illness confidential." Justice Nisar remarked, "There are people present in the country who are suffering with this disease."
'Let Musharraf return to Pakistan, no one will arrest him'
Musharraf's lawyer said, "If it's necessary for Musharraf to return then he should be allowed to visit a doctor and his name shouldn't be placed on Exit Control List (ECL)." Then CJ assured, "Let Musharraf return to Pakistan, no one will arrest him but I cannot say anything regarding removal of his name from ECL." A person placed in ECL cannot leave the country.
Musharraf should record his statement under Section 342: CJ
"He (Musharraf) should record his statement under Section 342 of the criminal procedure code in the treason case," Justice Nisar said. Musharraf's lawyer then told the court that the former President left the country after permission from the Pakistan Government. The Chief Justice Nisar, however, said, "We are saying it again, we did not grant permission to Musharraf."
Petitioner wants recovery of public money wasted by Musharraf, others
Naming Musharraf, former President Asif Ali Zardari, and former Attorney General Justice (Retd) Malik Qayyum as respondents, petitioner Feroz Shah Gilani had requested the court in April to order recovery of "huge amounts of public money" misappropriated and wasted by them through unlawful means.
Musharraf declared fugitive in Benazir Bhutto assassination case
Gilani contended Musharraf subverted the Constitution by declaring emergency followed by the promulgation of NRO, through which criminal and corruption cases against politicians, including Zardari, were "arbitrarily withdrawn". A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, has been declared a fugitive in the Benazir Bhutto assassination and Red Mosque cleric killing cases.
