ISLAMABAD: Veteran lawyer Akram Sheikh on Monday stepped down as the prosecution team head tasked by the previous federal government to prosecute former president Pervez Musharraf on charges of high treason under Article 6 of the constitution. Sheikh tendered his resignation just as the special court was all set to resume hearing of the high treason case against Musharraf.
Copies of the resignation letter, addressed to Secretary Interior Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, have also been sent to the secretary to the president, secretary to the prime minister, secretary to the law and justice division and registrars of the Supreme Court and Special Court. While talking to a private television channel, Sheikh expressed hope that the new government would pursue the case to its logical end. “The newly-elected government may choose to continue with the prosecution of the case and appoint a counsel of its own liking,” he stated. A close aide of Sheikh appreciated Sheikh’s efforts, saying that the veteran lawyer and his law firm suffered a lot after he was engaged to prosecute this case. It remains to be seen whether the PTI government-in-waiting will pursue the treason case or retain Akram Sheikh as the prosecutor.
Published in Daily Times, July 31st 2018.
