Treason trial: Musharraf’s team to seek adjournment

Counsel to file plea, stating ex-president abroad for treatment

ISLAMABAD: As a three-judge special court will resume today (Thursday) hearing of a treason case against former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf for subverting the Constitution on November 2, 2007, Musharraf’s legal team will move an application for adjournment of hearing.

On March 8, Musharraf’s counsel submitted that his client was unwell and admitted to hospital and that he would not be able to appear before the bench. However, the court had ignored the request and summoned him on March 31 (today) for recording statement under section 342 CrPC.

However, on March 18 Musharraf flew to Dubai after the government lifted international travel restrictions on him. A day earlier, the top court had directed the government to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

In view of the recent development, Musharraf’s counsel Chaudhry Faisal Hussain will submit a four-page application, stating that the former president is abroad for his medical treatment and for that reason he is unable to furnish appearance before court today (Thursday).

However, the time-frame about the return of Musharraf is not given in the application. Musharraf’s leading counsel Farogh Nasim will not appear today and Ahmed Raza Qasuri will argue before the three-judge bench. The draft of the application is available with The Express Tribune.

The application says that the non-appearance of Musharraf is not intentional but due to the unavoidable medical condition. It states that after the last hearing the health of the accused further deteriorated and he was admitted to hospital for medical treatment.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2016.