Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, detained president of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, recorded his statement in the high treason case filed against him on Saturday. Islamabad District and Sessions Court Judge Chaudhry Asad Raza ordered Mr Hashmi to record his statement after his counsels, MA Malik and Syed Zafer Ali Shah, completed cross-examination of the 14 prosecution witnesses. In his statement, Mr Hashmi denied guilt of the charges against him in the high treason case. He said a forged case was filed against him because he criticised the military regime on the floor of the National Assembly and in other public places.
| "Framed! I been framed, I tell yez!" |
The court directed Special Public Prosecutor Munir Bhatti to initiate arguments on this case at the next hearing day on April 9. Mammona Hashmi, a member of the National Assembly and Mr Hashmi’s daughter, was present during the court proceedings. |