ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday admitted an application filed by Chaudhry Aslam Ghuman, advocate, to imply him as party in human rights case regarding arrest of the accused involved in the cases of torture and murder of the advocates.

Aslam Ghuman, the lawyer who withdrew his application against former military ruler Gen (retd) Musharraf in judges’ detention case last month, said he is facing life threats.

The case was registered against the former military ruler on August 11, 2009 on the complaint of Ghuman for confining over 60 judges of the superior courts after imposing an emergency on November 3, 2007. However, the local advocate had later announced that he would not pursue the case ‘in the larger public interest’.

In his application, Ghuman stated that, “After the arrest of Gen (retd) Musharraf the applicant has been under constant life threat by Col (retd) Ilyas S/O not known R/O farm house Pervez Musharraf situated at Chak Shahzad Islamabad through obnoxious SMS and personally through different persons.”

Musharraf has already got bail in judges’ detention case from the Islamabad High Court.

Describing his ordeal due to alleged threats, Ghuman said that even his family members have to undergo mental torture and they were made to suffer with sleepless nights.

“In case of any mishap with the applicant as well as his family members, Col (retd) Ilyas will be responsible for dangerous acts done by him,” said the advocate in his application. On the other hand, when contacted on his cell phone Col (retd) Ilyas told Dawn.com that he is a security advisor by profession and currently looking after the affairs related to security of the former president since his return to Pakistan in March.

While refusing to even recognise Ghuman the colonel said, “I am a professional who only advises in security matters, I never made a call or sent any SMS to the person you are talking about.”

The colonel said that even if Mr Ghuman will ask him for advice on his security, he would love to do it because this is what he does.

When asked about the application in the Supreme Court, the colonel said, “I have received nothing from Supreme Court yet, I will submit my reply if asked by the same.”

The case regarding arrest of the accused involved in the case of torture and murder of the advocates is pending before the Supreme Court, which is likely to resume its hearing by the next week – By Abdul Shakoor Khan