LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought help of the interior ministry on the high treason charges against former president general (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

The high court wants to discuss the legal point that if the declaration of the state of emergency by Musharraf in November 2017 was tantamount to abrogation of the Constitution, an offence of high treason, Geo TV reported.

Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi asked Additional Attorney General Chaudhry Ishtiaq Khan if the charges against the ex-military ruler could be withdrawn viewing the “legal shortcomings” as pointed by the accused’s lawyer. He said this while hearing the plea challenging establishment of special court for hearing the case.

He asked the additional attorney general whether imposing emergency and repealing the Constitution were separate matters. He also asked whether the government would withdraw the case if legal requirements could not be fulfilled.

Also Read: Musharraf high treason case: Special court to announce verdict on Dec 17

Ishtiaq Khan has sought time from the court to discuss with the secretary ministry of interior. The hearing has been adjourned till Dec 17.

On Dec 5, the special court in Islamabad had said it would announce the verdict in former president Pervez Musharraf’s high treason case on December 17.

A three-member bench headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad is hearing the case.

On Oct 24, the government had dismissed the prosecution team hired by the previous government in the said case. The new team of prosecutors which include advocates Ali Zia Bajwa and Munir Bhatti had appeared before the special court. They had apprised the court that they had received the notification of appointment for the case in the evening of Dec 5 with thousands of documents to read, therefore they needed some time to study the case.