January 10, 2024

 

     PRESS RELEASE

 

Mr. Haroon-ur-Rashid, Vice-Chairman and Mr. Hassan Raza Pasha, Chairman, Executive Committee of the Pakistan Bar Council, have appreciated today’s decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, whereby four-Judges Bench headed by Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Qazi Faez Isa, accepted the appeal of the Pakistan Bar Council filed against Pervaiz Musharraf in high treason case before Supreme Court, and the impugned judgment dated 13.01.2020 of the Lahore High Court, passed in Writ Petition No.71713/2019 titled “General (R) Pervaiz Musharraf Vs. FOP etc.” has been dismissed.

 

They expressed that Mr. Pervez Musharraf usurped the power after coup in October, 1999 and ruled in Pakistan as Army Chief and then President of Pakistan till 2008 while abrogating the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 and was guilty of high treason under Article 6 of the Constitution for subverting the Constitution of Pakistan, twice, first on 12th October, 1999 and again on 03rd November, 2007, when imposed Emergency and Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 was held in abeyance/suspended. They expressed that the Special Court awarded death sentence to him in the High Treason case under Article 6 for abrogating the Constitution. He was absconder of Pakistani Courts and was a convicted person. They paid tribute to late Mr. Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth, Former Chief Justice, Peshawar High Court, too for his historic Judgment in High treason case against a dictator Mr. Pervaiz Musharraf.

 

They further expressed that Supreme Court of Pakistan has proved that the Judiciary is independent. The whole legal community has welcomed this historic judgement and also demanded from the Federal Government to initiate the case under Article 6 against delinquents and responsible, who violated the Article 5 of Constitution of Pakistan. They were of the views that Supreme Court played its Constitutional Role for strengthening the democracy and rule of law in the Country through its historic judgment which would strengthen the principle of supremacy of the Constitution and would be remembered as an example in political history of Pakistan.

 

They further said that Pakistan Bar Council and legal fraternity had always resisted against unconstitutional steps of usurpers. The Institution of Army is very dear to the people of Pakistan as defender of the homeland and it should perform its duties and functions prescribed under Constitution of Pakistan and should not violate its Oath. They further said that the lawyers community is committed, as usual, to strive for protecting the Constitution, the independence of Judiciary and the rule of law in the Country.

 

SECRETARY