‘If found dead, Musharraf’s corpse should be dragged to D-Chowk, hanged for three days’

The special court that had earlier found former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf guilty of high treason, on Thursday issued its detailed verdict, an excerpt of which has left Twitterati stunned.

“We direct the Law Enforcement Agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict [Musharraf] and to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk, Islamabad and hanged for three days,” read the excerpt.

Here’s what Twitterati have to say about it:

Special court, in its verdict against Musharraf, directed to apprehend him, let his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk and hanged for 3 days.

Are you serious Adlia? Humiliating him for constitution breach by labelling ‘ghaddar’ wasn’t enough, already? pic.twitter.com/qZ1Rtirmhq

— Sameena E. (@SameenaERana) December 19, 2019

Detailed verdict against #Musharraf states that if he dies, his corpse should be brought to D-Chowk and be hanged for 03 days.
Inhumane! What kind of judiciary we have? No respect for the dead? #impeachment pic.twitter.com/Ohp7XXiSFY

— Fahad Malik (@Fahad4014) December 19, 2019

This is way too much! Will have serious consequences. https://t.co/GyaCqocDta pic.twitter.com/UH3AQ1194q

— Ajmal Jami (@ajmaljami) December 19, 2019

Page 66 of the special court verdict against Pervez Musharraf says that if fugitive found dead his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk Islamabad and be hanged for 3 days but I think it’s difficult to implement the verdict because “fugitive” is still very strong pic.twitter.com/RVhJkfwANN

— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) December 19, 2019

The dooming excerpt was, however, a part of the dissenting opnion of one of the three judges, Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth. This was also confirmed by lawyer Reema Omer.

Thread: Summary of the Special Court’s judgment

Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth:

1. Musharraf guilty of high treason
2. Past SC judgments make out the offence
3. Other army officers/aiders too should be tried
4. Supports retrospective application of Art. 6
4. Directs public hanging

— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) December 19, 2019

Justice Shahid Karim:

1. Musharraf guilty of high treason
2. His acts on and following 3 November 2007 were subversion of the Constitution so retrospective punishment doesn’t arise
3. Expressly disagrees with J. Seth’s direction for public hanging (but supports death penalty)

— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) December 19, 2019

Justice Nazar Akbar:

1. Prosecution failed to prove high treason
2. We should differentiate between civil and criminal standard of proof
3. Aiders should’ve been tried
4. Art 6 can’t be retrospectively applied
5. Rather cryptically, warns against relying too much on law/courts pic.twitter.com/vfMU6PpUAK

— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) December 19, 2019

A copy of the detailed verdict has been handed to an official of the Ministry of Interior.

READ FULL VERDICT:

On Tuesday, the court had sentenced Musharraf to death for imposing a state of emergency on November 3, 2007, adding that it had found him guilty of high treason in accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The case was heard by a bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and Justice Nazar Akbar of the Sindh High Court (SHC).

The special court, in its detailed verdict authored by Justice Seth, stated that Musharraf “has been afforded more than his due share of fair trial” and “given every opportunity to defend himself”. The court said that “the facts of the case are well documented” and “clearly demonstrate the guilt on the part of the accused”.

“It proves beyond a shadow of reasonable doubt all the charges of High Treason levelled against the accused by the State,” the verdict adds.

“We, with the majority of 2 as to 1, allow the complaint and hold the accused guilty of high treason as defined at Article 6 of the Constitution and pass punishment under section 2 High Treason (Punishment) Act, 1973. Thus, the convict be hanged by his neck till he is dead,” it reads.

It was a majority verdict, with two of the three judges giving the decision against Musharraf.