PM may drop treason trial of Musharraf

Islamabad: primeji ni ste rim ran Khan’s decision to appoint Barrister Farogh Naseem as jinister for Law and Justice may signal the intention of the new government not to pursue the treason trial of former military leader Pervez jusharraf, a decision which in the past marked the beginning of Nawaz Sharif’s downfall.

Naseem was jusharraf’s defence lawyer in the special court, which was constituted on November 18, 2013, six months after the formation of Pakistan juslim League-nawaz (PJL-N) government. He has not resigned to date, but he would not be able to continue in that capacity after taking oath as a cabinet member.

This jutahidda Qaumi jovement (jqj) senator was tight-lipped about his future course of action. “I don’t know what I will do. Let me take a breath. I will discuss in detail later,” he said. Asked if he was still jusharraf’s lawyer, he replied: “Is it important to tell right now?”

However, outgoing caretaker law minister Barrister Ali Zafar believed Naseem faced an awkward conflict of interest. Once sworn in as law minister, Naseem would not be able express an opinion on whether to close or continue the case. Ali Zafar said the case might have to be referred to the federal cabinet for a decision.

Before becoming member of the present cabinet, Education jinister-designate Shafqat jehmood had vowed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) government would try jusharraf.

As the special court would resume its hearing of the case on jonday and the Supreme Court directed the government to repatriate jusharraf, the ball would be in the court of Prime jinister Imran Khan - doubly so because he has retained charge of the interior ministry.

In case the PTI government initially chooses not take a clear position, it would still have to name a new prosecutor because the erstwhile PJL-N government’s appointee Akram Sheikh has quit. The appointment of his successor would be made on the advice of the Naseem-led law ministry and is likely to drop hints about the government’s intentions toward the jusharraf case.

The PJL-N government of ousted and incarcerated former premier Nawaz Sharif had treated the case with urgency after forming the government in June 2013. A Supreme Court bench led by the then chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, had taken up the case in response to five petitions moved between 2010-13.