ATC issues arrest warrants for Musharraf in judges’ detention case

Former military dictator’s counsel says his client went abroad for medical treatment with government’s permission

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court on Friday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in judges’ detention case.

Legal proceedings were initiated against the former military dictator for detaining over 60 judges, including former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. The judges were detained after proclamation of a state of emergency in the country.

During court proceedings, Musharraf’s counsel Akhtar Shah submitted a ‘wakalatnama’ for his client prompting ATC judge Sohail Ikram to ask the whereabouts of the accused.



However, the counsel of the former military dictator informed the court that his client had gone abroad for medical treatment with permission of the government.

The ATC judge while observing that the accused did not get prior permission from the court before his departure issued non-bailable warrants against Musharraf and adjourned the hearing of the case till April 22.

Musharraf is facing terrorism charges in the case, which was based on a first information report (FIR) registered against him on August 11, 2009 by the Secretariat police for detaining over 60 judges, including former CJP.



In June 2013 the court indicted Musharraf in the judges’ detention case. According to the charge sheet, the military ruler had imposed a state of emergency and detained the judges. Fifteen lawyers had already recorded their statements as witnesses against Musharraf.

On June 11, 2013, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had granted pre-arrest bail to the former president.