ISLAMABAD: A special court ordered Pakistan’s government on Friday to ensure the arrest of former President Pervez Musharraf and suspend his passport and national identity card if he fails to return to the country.
The court was constituted in November 2013 to try Musharraf for imposing a state of emergency in November 2007 when he was president.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Yahya Afridi has been hearing the case, and has directed the Interior Ministry to ask Interpol to issue “appropriate warrants” for his arrest and for his appearance before the court.
It said the government has not made enough effort to arrest Musharraf, adding: “The court was informed that the accused is presently residing in the United Arab Emirates and that there is an Extradition Treaty between the government of the UAE and Pakistan, which could be invoked to ensure the arrest of the accused and the attachment of his properties in the UAE.”
Musharraf was indicted in March 2014, but rejected the charges against him. He left Pakistan for Dubai in the same month for medical treatment after the federal government allowed him to travel abroad. A few months later, the court declared him an absconder for not appearing before the bench.
Musharraf’s counsel, Akhtar Shah, told the judges during the last hearing that his client intended to appear before the court, but that he was facing threats to his life for which he required security from the Defense Ministry.
Prosecution lawyer Akram Sheikh told the court that the Interior Ministry is ready to provide “fool-proof security” to Musharraf in Pakistan.
Shahzad Arbi, a spokesperson for Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League, said the former president had sent a formal request to the Interior Ministry on March 13 for the provision of security upon his return, and “we are still waiting for an official response from the ministry.”
Arbi said Musharraf is ready to return to Pakistan and face all cases against him if the ministry provides sufficient security.
“The ball is in the government’s court now, and we hope to receive a positive response,” Arbi told Arab News.
Interior Ministry spokesman Yasir Shakeel confirmed to Arab News receipt of Musharraf’s request for security, but declined to share further details.
Senior advocate Sharafat Ali said the government will have to comply with the court orders, otherwise contempt proceedings could be initiated against relevant Interior Ministry officials.
He said the court is pressing the government to bring back Musharraf because it cannot proceed against him in absentia.
“The government can invoke the extradition treaty with the UAE if Musharraf defies the court orders and fails to return to Pakistan voluntarily,” Ali told Arab News.
Pakistani court orders suspension of Musharraf’s passport, ID card
Pakistani court orders suspension of Musharraf’s passport, ID card
Floods ravage Minas Gerais, killing 36 as rescuers race to find dozens missing
- Minas Gerais’s fire department said 33 people were still missing and about 3,000 residents had been forced to leave their homes
- 600 families living in endangered areas were about to be relocated to local schools improvised as shelters
JUIZ DE FORA, Brazil: Dozens are still missing in southeastern Brazil on Wednesday after floods killed at least 36 people in the state of Minas Gerais, officials said Wednesday. Rescue teams worked through the night, as heavy rain is expected in the region in the next few days.
All the victims found so far are in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Uba, about 310 kilometers (192 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro.
Minas Gerais’s fire department said 33 people were still missing and about 3,000 residents had been forced to leave their homes as of Wednesday morning.
The streets of Juiz de Fora, a city of 560,000 residents, were covered in mud as authorities feared more landslides. Life in neighboring Uba, with its 107,000 residents, came to a stop. Classes were suspended in both cities, their mayors said.
Juiz de Fora’s City Hall said in a statement that around 600 families living in endangered areas were about to be relocated to local schools improvised as shelters and that the city experienced double the rain expected for February. Mayor Margarida Salomão said at least 20 landslides had been reported since the torrential rain began Monday evening.
On Tuesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on his social media channels that security forces have been deployed on rescue missions and are providing immediate assistance to the population affected by the rain. He also said health care teams had been sent to the region, which lies close to hills, valleys and slopes.
