Govt hints at challenging Musharraf conviction.

Byline: Iftikhar A. Khan

ISLAMABAD -- PromiAnent lawyer and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Babar Awan on Monday claimed that the government was examining the option of challenging the conviction of former president Pervez Musharraf.

He told a press conference that if it deemed appropriate, the government could file an appeal while the convict could also challenge the decision of the special court.

Rejecting the argument that the government being the complainant in the case could not file an appeal, Mr Awan recalled that Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif had been disqualified on a federal government complaint and the government went in appeal after the change of regime. He said the high treason case against Musharraf had been filed by the ex-premier with the consultation of his brother, but they both were silent on the conviction.

The PTI leader said a debate was going on if an absconder sentenced in absentia had to surrender before the law first or his appeal could be heard in his absence. He cited the case of slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto who had been convicted while she was abroad. He said an appeal on her behalf was taken up by the then Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan who held that the appeal of a person convicted in absentia could be heard in his/her absence. He said the appeal had been taken up and the judgement set aside.

Babar Awan sees no clash between institutions, rules out in-house change

The PTI leader said talks about a clash of institutions were being linked with Para 66 of the detailed judgement against retired general Musharraf.

He also ruled out any in-house change and expressed the confidence that the government would complete its constitutional term. He said the government's decision was to adopt the constitutional and legal path. He said there were reports in the media that the opposition's Rahbar Committee had been asked to make arrangements for an in-house change...