ISLAMABAD, Nov 21 (INP): The Special Court hearing treason trial against former president General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf ordered Friday to include co-accused in the matter and proceed against those people who advised him for imposing emergency on November 3, 2007.

The court, in a majority decision, directed the government to include former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, then law minister Zahid Hamid and ex-CJ Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar in the list of abettors which has names of 600 civil and military officials and adjourned the hearing till 9th December.

The court announced the judgment on the plea filed by the former president, seeking his acquittal in the high treason case as well as to involve co-accused in the case.

In its order, the court has directed the government to submit a response within the next 15 days and also included dissenting note.

A three-member Special Court headed by Justice Faisal Arab and comprising Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali, on October 31, had reserved judgment in the plea filed by the former president, seeking acquittal in the high treason case as well as to involve co-accused in the matter.

The court, after hearing the arguments of prosecution and defence, had reserved the judgment, ruling that both the sides have argued extensively hence the decision in the instant matter would be announced Friday.

Barrister Farogh Naseem, counsel for former President Pervez Musharaf, had filed an application with the Special Court, seeking joint trial of all civil, judicial and military leaders who were part of the setup when Proclamation of Emergency was declared in the country on 3rd of November 2007.

The defence counsel on October 31, while concluding his arguments, presented a transcript and DVD of former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s speech in which he had taken full responsibility for the decision to impose emergency. He had submitted that imposition of emergency was a collective decision taken in consultation with the then civil and military leaders.

INP/