Imposing emergency was Musharraf's decision: Col (retd) Rahim

ISLAMABAD: The last witness presented by the prosecution in the judges' detention case against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on Monday said that imposing emergency in 2007 was the former president's personal decision. 

The ATC on Monday resumed hearing of the high-profile case during which the prosecution's witness, Colonel (retd) Inamur Rahim, recorded his statement.

Rahim, who served as a lieutenant colonel during time when emergency was imposed, said Musharraf "misused his uniform in imposing emergency in the country on November 3, 2007, and hence caused damage to the credibility of the armed forces."

Musharraf has been facing terrorism charges in the case, based on a first information report (FIR) registered against him on August 11, 2009, by the Secretariat Police for detaining over 60 judges.

The former military ruler was indicted in the case in June 2013. According to the charge sheet, the former president had imposed a state of emergency and detained the judges.

The witness, in his statement before the court, said the then corp commanders did not consent to detain judges, adding that lawyers and former servicemen also protested against the imposition of emergency in the country.

Rahim further said the lawyers, who were active in the movement for the restoration of judiciary, were sent to prison as they were opposed to the move.

After Rahim recorded his statement, prosecutor Amir Nadeem told the court that all testimonies by the witnesses have been completed.

However, Musharraf's counsel, Akther Shah, requested the court to grant time for arguments in the case.

The ATC accepted the request and adjourned the hearing of the case until October 5.

Earlier in 2014, the head of the FIA probe team Khalid Qureshi had informed the special court that Musharraf imposed emergency as chief of army staff (COAS).

Qureshi too had appeared in the court as a prosecution witness in the case and had further said that Musharraf had issued the PCO affidavit as the president. Qureshi added that the FIA probe team had reached the conclusion that Musharraf was guilty of violating the constitution by suspending it.

He had also said he showed Musharraf the November 3, 2007, emergency order, PCO and documents for the removal of judges which had his (Musharraf’s) signatures. According to Qureshi, Musharraf had refused to give his statement on these documents.