Lawyer says Supreme Court proceedings might influence FIA probe against Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: The counsel for former army chief Pervez Musharraf has expressed his apprehension that the Supreme Court's ongoing proceedings might influence the FIA team's investigations against his client.

Malik Qamar Afzal, one of the counsels for Musharraf, requested the bench to dispose of the matter on Friday, but the bench observed that they would like to provide equal opportunities to all the petitioners and respondents in the matter.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, on Friday observed that fair and free trial would be ensured in the current matter, as it was the fundamental right of Pervez Musharraf under Article 10A of the constitution.

Attorney General Munir A Malik did not attend Friday's proceedings due to prior commitments, while the deputy attorney general told the bench that it was reported in the media that the verdict had been reserved.

The counsel for Musharraf, Ibrahim Satti, said he thought that the hearing had been adjourned.

At the beginning of the hearing, the bench was informed that Attorney General Munir A Malik was busy in cases before the chief justice of Pakistan's bench since morning, and was not likely to be available for the day. The deputy attorney general cited some media reports in the matter, saying there was an impression that the court had reserved its judgement in the matter.

Raja Ibrahim Sati, another counsel for Musharraf, said that he thought that the hearing had been adjourned, upon which Justice Jawwad S Khawaja observed that the case hearing was being conducted almost on a daily basis.

During the proceedings, Malik Qamar Afzal pleaded to deliver verbal arguments in the instant matter, but the bench turned down his request.

The bench ruled, "Malik Qamar Afzal, ASC [advocate Supreme Court] wishes to make oral submission, which prima facie, do not appear reasonable because we are adjourning the case, however, still, if he wishes to make submissions, let him do so by filing a formal civil miscellaneous application."