Musharraf illegally declared emergency in 2007: Pak FIA report

Islamabad: Pakistan’s main federal investigative agency has “irrefutable proof” that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf illegally declared a state of emergency in 2007, according to a report it released on Wednesday, as the one-time leader now faces a high treason trial over the declaration. [caption id=“attachment_1524793” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Former Pak president Pervez Musharraf. Reuters[/caption] The 237-page Federal Investigation Agency report quotes a former governor of the eastern Punjab province, Khalid Maqbool, and a former attorney general, Malik Muhammad Qayyum, as saying they had not been consulted by Musharraf before he declared the emergency on 3 November, 2007. Under Pakistani law, Musharraf was to have consulted then-prime minister Shaukat Aziz before making the declaration - something the former government officials said he hadn’t done. The report also quotes former Cabinet Secretary Masoom Alam Rizvi as saying Aziz never gave any advice to Musharraf about declaring a state of emergency. The position of Cabinet secretary is considered one of the most important in Pakistan as the official issues all government notifications. The report says investigators believe that’s “irrefutable proof and concrete documentary evidence” that Musharraf illegally declared the state of emergency. It also accused Musharraf of taking the decision “for his ulterior motives.” The FIA report comes as Musharraf faces high treason charges over the decision, charges that carry the death penalty. It is the first time the government has submitted the findings of its investigation to the court, which has adjourned the hearing until 22 May. Associated Press