Shujaat wants Constitutional interpretation of word 'treason'
The PML-Q chief says proceeding of trial under Article 6 should be initiated from October 12, 1999.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said that trial under Article 6 should not be initiated against a single person and if the government wants proceeding then it should initiate from 12th October 1999.
Talking to newsmen at his residence on Wednesday, Chudhry Shujaat Hussain said that Pervez Musharraf was not avoiding the courts as he had earlier appeared before a civil court.
"Hanging a traitor for four times was even insufficient sentence for a person who commits this crime but the word ‘treason’ should be properly interpreted in the Constitution", he said.
The PML-Q chief said that the Constitution was not made of clay that someone would break it. He demanded that word ‘treason’ should be replaced with word ‘violator of Constitution’ after an amendment in the Constitution.
It is to mention here that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain proposed amendment in Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan. The PML-Q chief on Tuesday sent the draft of the proposed amendment to the Senate Secretariat.
According to the proposed draft, the word ‘high treason’ should be replaced with ‘crime against the state’ in sub-sections 1, 2 and 3 of Article 6 of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that the word ‘treason’ reflects the impression that an accused has joined enemies of the country.
He also suggested removing such words from sections 121 and 130 of Pakistan Penal Code and said that change should also be made in Criminal Law Act 1973.
Earlier on Tuesday, a petition was filed to the special court against calling former army chief General (r) a traitor. The petition was filed by Akhtar Shah Advocate while the federal government and Pervez Musharraf had been made respondents.
The petitioner prayed the court that word abrogator of constitution and not traitor be used against former president Pervez Musharraf.
The petition says the word traitor has earned defamation to army. In order to save army from further infamy, it is imperative that Pervez Musharraf be not declared traitor.
He requested the court to issue orders for stopping the use of word traitor against Musharraf in media and other places.
On Monday, the PML-Q chief said that using word ‘high treason’ in the Musharraf case was not suitable.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had suggested that violator of Constitution could be used instead of traitor as an army chief could never be a traitor. He said the word ‘traitor’ is used for those who join the enemies of the country.
The PML-Q chief said he had already presented his name and former chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, former army chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and Pervez Ilahi could also be summoned in Musharraf case.
Former president Pervez Musharraf is currently under treatment at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Rawalpindi.
He was rushed to the military hospital last Thursday after falling ill while being taken to hear treason charges against him at the tribunal in Islamabad.
Initially, the special court exempted him from appearance for one day and then until Monday. The enveloped medical record of former president Parvez Musharraf was presented to the special court on Tuesday. The medical report was prepared by senior doctors of the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC). The court adjourned the hearing until Wednesday to allow time to assess the doctors report.
The special court on Wednesday reserved its judgment over the issue of applicability of criminal laws in the treason case against former President Pervez Musharraf.
According to medical report submitted to the court on Tuesday, Pervez Musharraf was suffering from at least nine medical problems.
On the other hand, it was reported that appointment with prominent British doctor was also finalised for the checkup of the former president.
The court will announce its decision on medical report of General (r) Pervez Musharraf on January 9.
The treason charges, which carry the death penalty or life imprisonment under Pakistan’s laws, relate to events in 2007 when Musharraf, while serving as Pakistan’s president and military commander, imposed a nationwide state of emergency and oversaw the arrests of several judges and civil society activists.
Aside from the treason allegations, Musharraf also faces trial over the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the death of Akbar Bugti and a deadly raid on a radical mosque.
