Musharraf Verdict: If found dead, convict’s corpse be dragged to D-Chowk and hanged, sparks debate

The detailed verdict in the high treason case against Pervez Musharraf was announced by the Special Court on Thursday, after sentencing him to death in the short verdict announced on Tuesday.

A three-member bench formed on the special order of the Supreme Court, comprising of, Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth, announced its verdict on Thursday.

Of the three judges, Justice Seth and Justice Karim gave the death sentence while Justice Nazarullah Akbar wrote a dissenting note saying that the prosecution team could not prove treason case.

The 169-page detailed judgment has been authored by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth who has directed public hanging.

Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court and Justice Nazar Akbar of the Sindh High Court have disagreed with such a method of execution prescribed by their fellow judge.

The judgment, that comprised of 169 pages, stated that the prosecution failed to defend the case effectively and provide sufficient evidence against the former army chief.

“As a necessary corollary to what has been observed, we find the accused guilty as per charge. The convict be therefore hanged by his neck till he dies on each count as per charge.”

“We direct the Law Enforcement Agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk, Islamabad, Pakistan and be hanged for 03 days,” read the detailed verdict.

“Indeed, this portion of the judgement and execution of the sentence is nowhere defined but since it is first impression case and the sentence of death is announced in his absence after declaring the convict as proclaimed offender, therefore, the sentence is supposed to be executed and in case of his death a sentence, to this extent, para 65 prescribes the mode of execution.”

However, paragraph 66 of the judgment which calls for the former president’s body to be “dragged to D-Chowk” in Islamabad, has sparked a new debated in Pakistan other than Musharraf’s convection to death.

Here is how social media reacting to paragraph 66 of the judgment: