Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP
RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: The special court on Friday allowed former president Pervez Musharraf to appear before the court on February 18 for the treason case hearing after his lawyers assured the bench of his attendance, Express News reported.
Since the start of the trial in December 2013, Musharraf has not appeared before the court. The special court - constituted to try him for treason - issued bailable arrest warrant against him on January 31 and he was due to appear today.
Musharraf’s lawyers, however, requested for a delay and guaranteed he will appear on February 18.
Earlier, the security forces had arrived at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) to take Musharraf to the special court.
During today's hearing at the National Library, Anwar Mansoor - senior counsel on Musharraf's legal team - said the special court wishes to bring Musharraf to court and indict him. Mansoor argued that it was necessary that Musharraf's requests challenging the formation of the special court are addressed before the former president is tried.
Musharraf faces treason charges under Article 6 for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts.
The 70-year-old retired general is currently hospitalised at AFIC in Rawalpindi. He was rushed to the AFIC and admitted there over a month ago, after he complained of chest pain en route to the court.
Security measures
Three possible routes were set out between the AFIC and the special court and at least 1,100 security personnel were on duty to ensure Musharraf’s security.
Large contingents of police and Rangers, including elite forces were standing guard at the National Library and AFIC as well as on parts of Airport Road, Murree Road, Express Highway and Mall Road.
The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) also swept the area to check for explosives.
SC rejects Musharraf's request
On February 4, the former army chief had challenged the special court’s order regarding the issuance of a bailable warrant, along with its January 10 order on the applicability of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the Supreme Court.
The SC today dismissed Musharraf’s request against the arrest warrant.
COMMENTS (69)
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@Ajab Khan Baloch:
If every citizen is equal before the law then how come only 10% of the elite has all the wealth of the country and the rest 90% people hardly have enough to eat 2 square meals a day.
@Truth Told:
If the court address to the complaints of Musharraf counsel then he would have come and present in the court. He has come by himself to face the court but if he sees injustice is waiting for him and the judges of the court has only one purpose to convict Musharraf and put a handcuff to Musharraf and send him to the jail. Nawaz and one of the judge even gone together to see a place where they want to keep the convicted Musharraf as mentioned by Jasmin Manzoor a TV anchor.
This Musharraf circus is getting to be hilarious. Soon, he will be getting movie offers from Hollywood based on his great acting job. I can’t wait to see what new drama he is going to come up with on his next trip to the court.
My guess is he is going to claim he suddenly can’t see and his eyes are going blind and ask to be rushed back to the hospital. Once tests prove, there is nothing wrong with his sight, on his next court trip he will pretend he will be rushed the hospital to treat him for a sudden lump that developed in his throat that made him lose his voice. Once that also is proved to be fake, on his next hospital parade, he will suddenly pretend he has lost all his memory claiming he doesn’t even know who he is!
@Ahmed Ali Khan:
I am not a supporter of NS or any other political leader for that matter. Moreover, NS is no angel and has many faults. Nevertheless, I respect the democratic process and his mandate. But Musharraf did not respect his mandate and NS acquiesced under the threat of the impending coup. It is obvious, given the fears he expressed in Washington on the 4th of July, that he has been following Musharraf's "orders," which must have been to accept Kargil or a coup. Next, Musharraf sent him to Clinton to secure a ceasefire to save the Pakistan military from further humiliation. He was reluctant to return to Pakistan fearing a backlash from religious hardliners on the one hand, and a military coup, on the other. Therefore, for the safety of his family, he left Kulsoom and Maryam behind. Nawaz was actually bound by Musharraf’s “advice” quite a few months before Musharraf finally disposed him off in October 1999.
We need a leader such as Musharraf who can deal with terrorists. Talking to terrorists means breaking constitution.
@Ahmed Ali Khan: If you go by the account given by Bruce Riedel, "Amercian Diplomacy and the 1999 Kargil Summit at Blair House," it would appear that NS was just under the dictates of Musharraf. Even in July 1990 that is, three months prior to his ousting Nawaz Sharif, Musharraf was calling the shots and NS was complying given his fear of a Musharraf takeover. The real person running the show was Musharraf and as such he is the one responsible for the Kargil misadventure. Moreover, since the operation was poorly planned and unsustainable and since it led to the humiliation of the Pakistan armed forces, the armed forces and the nation has a right to hold Musharraf to account.
@Patriotic Pakistani:
Do you have any proof that the govt. does not know about the Kargil. I have seen vedios where NS was speaking to the soldiers in Kargil and wishing them success. Nawaz Sharif lied several times for eg. about leave to Saudi Arabia with a 10 year deal. Kharz utaro Mulk Sanwaro. Where is the money which he collected from the people. Another lie that his workers said that he was exiled from the country whereas actually he request and make a deal to go and live in Saudi Arabia for 10yrs.
@Zahra: Talking cannot resolve such issues but what is important is to respect each other's views.
@Sunder Sapna:
Civilian Govt. was on board. I saw vedio of Nawaz Sharif giving speech in Kargil. NS wished the soldiers success.
@Assad: You say: “Also the Army does not need the approval of the parliament for local action in areas around the Line of Control.” Kargil was no “local action in areas around the Line of Control.” It had wider consequences, including that of leading to a wider military conflagration. Not only military considerations were involved but economic as well. For example, Pakistan could not have been able to sustain international economic sanctions and would have become isolated internationally. For these reasons, no civilian or even wise military leadership would have allowed an adventure which was unsustainable and fraught with disastrous consequences. That Musharraf undertook this operation without the approval of the then government should also be accounted for. Yet this is not the case.
Indictment means criminal charges. He is already indited. He has not b een araigned
@Patriotic Pakistani: So if Musharraf is being held accountable for Kargil operation, how about those who got Pakistan involved at Siachen and prior to that in the Sir Creeks conflict, or in the 1971 war or for that matter in the 1965 and 1948 wars?
Also the Army does not need the approval of the parliament for local action in areas around the Line of Control. This is not a case of Pakistani Army going across the International Boundary and attacking India.
@Rehan: I am not even from that school of thought..okay email me we can talk: zahra.mir84@gmail.com ET do not censor
Hospital is a 5 star jail for him. He is in win situation.Iam sure he wants to go to his lavish chack shahzad farm house but cant, Then his excuse not to appear in the court will go away. Heart pateients do not stay in hospital without treatments. But his condition is cowardly rather than heartily.
I love how we are trying an army General for abrogating the constitution and negotiating with the terrorists who have killed thousands of Pakistanis. At least we have our priorities straight.
The General and his legal team are playing the Pakistan justice system like a violin. Unfortunately, the whole thing is setting such a bad example. The General is showing all the bad guys in Pakistan how the justice system can be manipulated.
Today people should understand why we needed a General like Musharraf. What nonsense is this Lal Masjid Maulvi talking about Allah Humaray hal pe raham kar.
God bless you Musharraf!
Contradictory statement: "to stand up to US and fight with US along side with afghans.'
@Saeed: Not just a segment but a wide spectrum of people of different shades and opinion believe that regardless which government was in power or who was in power, legally, and justly Musharraf had no right to launch the Kargil operation without the approval of the government of the day.
@Saeed: That Musharraf launched Kargil without the approval of the then Government and that is treason, period.
What happened to the treason case of Hussain Haqqani? Let rest all the fish go away. Nawaz Shariff is burning with revenge only.
Shariff's special court obeying well. PM actions for which he is tried were in unifrom. Therefore, prinicipally he must be tried in military courts. No justice unfortunately as expected.
@Patriotic Pakistani: Could you also inform us if Musharraf got into Kargil without the approval of the incumbent government? If so, does that also qualify for treason?
ET: Kindly let me respond to someone who has written to me. @Naim: That Justice Jilani was part of the lawyer's movement does not prove that he has a grievance against Musharraf. He was active against the injustices perpetrated by the tyrant. And, that is no prima facie evidence that he would act unjustly as he presides over the Supreme Court.
@Patriotic Pakistani:
What an irony, those who blame musharraf for kargil and rushed to US for help against india were asking musharraf to stand up to US and fight with US along side with afghans.
Our prime minister did not say a single word when india killed several of our soldiers on border just few months ago.
Does it make sense? Are we even capable of unbiased thinking?
@Zahra: One-sided comment, truly biased.
Suspending the Constitution in 2007 was not the only time Musharraf committed treason. He got many honorable soldiers killed in the Kargil misadventure without taking the civilian government on board and NS had to scurry to Washington and plead for a ceasefire so that Pakistani casualties could be checked. He abused the army for his personal plan to set the stage for grabbing power. NS already knew of the impending takeover as early as July 1999 as is evidenced that he took his family along to Washington and had them stay back for a while.
Musharraf is a bad planner. He got into the Kargil debacle and got trapped because he could not foresee not plan for the larger and widening war that would have resulted between the arch nuclear rivals. Again, to prove his "innocence" he came back to Pakistan and got trapped in the judicial system without foreseeing the wider implications of his adventure. Both are explicable in terms of an uncontrollable urge for power.
@Aahjiz BayNawa:Special kangaroo court was set up by the corrupt ex chief Justice and Nawaz Sharif,the court has bias judges,Justice jilani was part of the lawyers movement has a grievance against Musharraf, another judge had judged Musharraf guilty before any trial, and had him disqualified from running in the election, all the corrupt were given a go ahead with the election. this is Injustice.
"Treason trial against a person who built Pakistan?" @Asmatullah
What kind of a Pakistan he built in which a court is so powerless against an ex dictator? If he had built a country, nobody would be insulting law.
Musharraf is playing games with this kangaroo court. If this court had been impartial and formed legally this would have been over a long time ago, but it is not legal and full of so called judges that have been assembled just to convict Musharraf. Those calling for Musharraf to be brave and face the court would have run away themselves were they to face a court they knew was there for only one purpose. Musharraf has appearned in a number of fake cases against him so it is clear he is not afraid of the courts.
@Naim: This Supreme Court is headed by Justice Jilani who has a reputation of being fair, unbiased, and thoroughly professional. He is not going to allow any "kangaroo court," period. Learn to respect this unbiased judiciary.
Whereas relevant and fair comments about Musharraf are being ignored by ET, pro-Musharraf comments are being given prominence: liberal justice?
@Asad: And, Musharraf's economic performance was due to the dollars he and Pakistan received for siding with America, whereas Mahathir brought ingenious and development to Malaysia's industry, especially through the manufacturing sector.
People who are so concerned with Musharraf's non appearance in court are followers of injustice some don't know the difference between proper justice and kangaroo court justice.
Sir Musharraf, you are the best
The Govt is negotiating with extremists who hold the constitution in contempt and actually reject it! Other secessionist groups boldly defy the constitution but are treated kindly! Here a former President is being tried for imposing emergency for over a month and holding the constitution in abeyance!!!! Oxford dictionary definition of abeyance - 'a state of suspension'.
Musharraf is still on the run, still hiding, but he cannot escape.
Treason trial against a person who built Pakistan?
Musharraf is the best leader Pakistan ever had.
Musharraf as a ruler was a gift from Allah to Pakistan. It seems that we deserve to be ruled by the corrupt rulers. Musharraf is being punished for his honesty, vision and loyalty to Pakistan.
@waqas: Which "taxpayers" ? Do you honestly pay your taxes? Most here don't including those who are running affairs of the State. So don't even mention tax or taxpayers ever, please.
stop wasting taxpayers money on personal rifts
Double standards Imagine what would have happened if an ordinary man were there instead of General.
@Rehana, Oh so that which is being followed in Pakistan is called Islam?
@Rehana: H.U the nepotistic ruler? Or the one who was assassinated? Or the misogynist? E.T do not censor
@ Ali: this is how we hide :p
@ Ali: this is how we hide :p
It is a shameful episode to watch humiliation of a benefactor by those minions who should be saluting the great man. Long live President Musharraf for Chief of our Army and Joint Chief of Staff of our forces. It is a sad experience. no doubt, and must be distressing our soldiers, rank & file, to see this treachery. I for one condemn this betrayal of our brave soldier. Pakistan itself must be feeling sorry for this humiliation of one of its greatest sons. Shame on us all to let this theater take place.
I forecast Attock Fort....,!!!!!
If Hazrat Umar R.A. could appear before court, why not Musharraf. What kind of Islam are we following. No one is above law. Musharraf should appear before court.
Musharraf should be brought before court at every cost. He is not an angel. He is human like us.
This is how we travel, in style :)
@Kaleem: .... k jese Sharif Sb fled the country when Musharraf took over .... and Sharif Sb: ... oh i was forced to leave the country
@Taseer Siddiqui: -yawn-
Good atleast for his appearance in Court the place and the roads are sanitised for bombs. Pakistan should hold the court at different locations so that the entire Pakistan automatically becomes bomb free. What say?
lets C new episode of this drama.
Will the Brave General be courageous enough to face a sentence or for that matter the court? I guess one of his friends Amrika (A) / Allah (A) Saudi / (A) Army will bail him out.
Laazim he ke ham bhe dekhien ge