Govt decides to file reference against Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth in SJC

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of Special Court's detailed verdict in Musharraf treason case, the government has decided to file a reference against Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), sources told.

The decision was taken during a media strategy committee meeting headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad Thursday. The government's legal team has stated that para 66 in the detailed verdict - which states that the convict should be dragged to D-Chowk and hanged for three days - is violation of the legal and humanitarian limits.

The special court verdict has created a sense of anarchy in the country. This verdict negates the law, shariah and human rights, the legal team added.

According to sources, the prime minister vowed not to let stability be affected in the country and any attempt to create conflict among institutions will be foiled.

Earlier, Law Minister Farogh Naseem on Thursday announced the federal government's decision to approach the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for the restraining of and subsequent removal of the judge who had authored the detailed verdict in the Musharraf treason case. The detailed written order had been released earlier in the day and has been widely criticised by the lawyer community as well as members of civil society. "I do not understand the authority under which this sort of observation was given," said Naseem.