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Musharraf booked for detaining judges: police

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-12 08:56

ISLAMABAD: Police in the Pakistani capital Tuesday registered a case against former President Pervez Musharraf for illegally detaining top judges during 2007 emergency rule a day after a court called for registration of the case, police said.

In this August 14, 2008 file photo, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf addresses an Independence Day ceremony in Islamabad. [Xinhua]

Up to 60 judges including chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, were sacked and put under house arrest when they refused to show loyalty to Musharraf.

Musharraf was charged under various sections which carry at least three-year jail term, said Liaquat Niazi, Deputy Superintendent of Police at Secretariat Police Station, where the case was registered.

Niazi said that all aspects will be reviewed during the investigation as to which police officers and officials in Islamabad followed instructions from the former president.

A lawyer Aslam Iqbal Ghuman had filed a petition in the district court Islamabad, requesting the judge to order the police to register case against the former military president.

Ghuman told reporters that he will also name more people to be booked in the case when he will record his statement with the police.

The petitioner said that the former President had put under house arrest the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chuadhry and around 60 judges of highest judiciary and their families when he imposed emergency rule on November 3, 2007.

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He argued that President Asif Ali Zardari restored the judges on their November 2, 2007 positions and said that Musharraf's action was not only illegal but also an insult to the judiciary.

The judges had lost jobs after they refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) after Musharraf suspended the country's Constitution.

Musharraf, currently in London, resigned in August 2008 to avoid impeachment by the parliament.

On July 31, Supreme Court ruled that former president Pervez Musharraf's decision to impose emergency rule and dismiss dozens of senior judges was unconstitutional.

A 14-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had summoned Musharraf to appear in person or through a lawyer to explain his position, but the ex-president ignored the notice.

Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif demands of the government to put Musharraf on trial for suspending constitution.