The lead judge in the trial of Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had not resigned, but only left the courtroom in reaction to a defence lawyer’s “attitude,” the special tribunal said yesterday in Islamabad.
The court statement, which came after media reports and Musharraf defence lawyers said judge Faisal Arab had resigned, accused Musharraf defence attorney Anmar Mansoor of a lack of decency.
“The conduct of Anwar Mansoor did not demonstrate the level of decency towards the court which is expected from a senior counsel. Disgusted by such an attitude, the court rose for the day,” the statement said.
Arab was appointed last year to try Musharraf for abrogating the constitution in 2007, a crime punishable by death, but he was repeatedly accused of partiality by defence lawyers.
Geo TV had reported that Arab resigned after Mansoor, once again raised concerns over the impartiality of the court.
“It is a good decision by him (Justice Arab) and I am glad that his conscience has finally risen,” Ahmed Raza Kasuri, another of Musharraf’s lawyers, had told reporters outside the Special Court in Islamabad.
Kasuri said the government would have to appoint a new judge for the trial to proceed.
“Faisal Arab said he is distancing himself from the case. There is no shortage of judges in the country,” said Kasuri.
Arab had summoned Musharraf on March 31, and issued an arrest warrant to bring him before the court if he failed to come voluntarily.
Yesterday, the court reaffirmed the decision regarding Musharraf’s summons and warrant for arrest without bail for failing to appear. It is believed that the court will formally charge Musharraf with treason when he does appear.
The trial started last year but Musharraf has appeared only once, in February. He was not charged as the court was hearing his petition over the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
Musharraf was hospitalised in January after he complained of chest pains while being taken to the court in Islamabad.
Musharraf came to power in 1999 and ruled until 2008. He later went into self-imposed exile in London and Dubai before returning to Pakistan last March.