LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday overturned the death penalty for former military ruler Pervez Musharraf and declared as “unconstitutional” the special court which sentenced him last month.
Musharraf’s lawyer, Azhar Siddique, told Arab News the court ruled that Section 9 of the Criminal Law Amendment (Special Court) Act under which Musharraf’s in absentia trial took place is unconstitutional.
The former president has been living in self-exile in Dubai and failed to attend the special court’s hearings, prompting the in absentia proceedings.
His conviction by the special court on Dec. 17 focused on the suspension of the Constitution and imposition of a state of emergency in 2007. Neither Pakistan’s parliament nor superior judiciary had validated the action, which under the law is punishable by death or life imprisonment.
High court advocate Malik Muhammad Siddique Awan told Arab News that the special court, which sentenced Musharraf, was established by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and only the Supreme Court “has jurisdiction with regard to any appeal including the formation of court.”
Since the special court is in Islamabad, according to Awan, the Lahore court was not competent to entertain Musharraf’s appeal. “If by any stretch of law any high court has jurisdiction, then it is Islamabad high court and not the LHC.”
“This decision by LHC has actually overruled the verdict against the former military ruler … Now there is no case against Musharraf and he is a free man, like any other citizen of Pakistan,” he said.
According to Ashtar Ausaf Ali, former Attorney General, the case is not over as “the court has only dealt with the procedural faults.”
“The court has acquitted General Pervez Musharraf on technical grounds but did not declare that crime was not committed. Under the law of the land, there is no time limit for criminal proceedings and this case may be re-initiated against him at any time,” he told Arab News.
Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in October 1999 and resigned in 2008 amid public protests.
Lahore court overturns Musharraf death sentence
https://arab.news/9bep9
Lahore court overturns Musharraf death sentence
- The former military ruler was sentenced to death on high treason charges by an Islamabad court in December 2019
- Despite Lahore court’s decision, Musharraf’s case is not over yet, says former Attorney General
Pakistan name six uncapped players in ODI squad for Bangladesh series
- Series in Dhaka from Mar. 11-15 marks Pakistan’s second visit as ties between the two countries improve
- PCB says fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead Pakistan’s ODI side in three-match series
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday it picked six uncapped players in its 15-member One Day International (ODI) squad for a three-match series scheduled from Mar. 11-15 against Bangladesh in Dhaka in what will be Pakistan’s second visit since relations between the two countries began to improve in 2024.
The two sides have been strengthening cricketing ties. Earlier this year, Pakistan briefly threatened to boycott its Twenty20 World Cup match against India in Colombo, citing what it called unfair treatment of Bangladesh after the International Cricket Council (ICC) moved Dhaka off the tournament schedule after the team refused to play in India over security concerns.
Pakistan later reversed its decision following negotiations, with officials saying Bangladesh’s concerns had been addressed by the ICC.
“Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the ODI side, with six uncapped players included in the squad,” the PCB said in a statement.
“The uncapped players are Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain.”
The Pakistan team will reach Dhaka on Mar. 8 and play a practice match on Mar. 10 before the series begins.
The first ODI will be played on Mar. 11, followed by the second on Mar. 13, with the third and final match scheduled for Mar. 15.
All three matches will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
The series comes amid a broader thaw in diplomatic ties between the two South Asian nations, which were part of the same country until Bangladesh’s secession following a bloody civil war in 1971, an event that long cast a shadow over relations.
Relations have warmed since August 2024, after the ouster of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was widely viewed as close to India.
Cricket has often reflected political currents in South Asia.
15-MEMBER SQUAD
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl Hussain
