ATC rejects Musharraf’s medical report as fake

Seeks explanation from surgeon; directs police to present ex-military ruler in court on May 20

ISLAMABAD: After calling the medical report of former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf “fake”, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) sought an explanation on Friday from the surgeon who had examined the former president and prepared the report.

While dismissing Musharraf’s request for temporary exemption in the judges’ detention case owing to his poor health, the ATC-II judge Sohail Ikram upheld previously issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former president, and directed the police to ensure his appearance before the court on May 20.



Hearing the case on Friday, the police informed the court that warrants for Musharraf’s arrest could not be executed since the former president had moved to Karachi two years ago and has been seeking medical treatment in Dubai since March 18.

Last month, Musharraf flew to Dubai for medical treatment after the government lifted international travel restrictions on him after three years. He is facing a slew of court cases on different charges, including high treason for subverting the Constitution in 2007.

Meanwhile, Musharraf’s counsel Akhtar Shah submitted a medical report to the court in which doctors recommended treatment for the former president in the United Kingdom and America and hence sought temporary exemption from appearing before the court.

The court, however, rejected Shah’s request and called the report fake, noting that Musharraf left the country in March but the medical report produced in the court was dated April 6.

“The medical report appears to be fake as Musharraf departed for Dubai in March but the report says he was examined in April,” the judge pointed out.

Shah pointed towards past statements of the former dictator where he had expressed his willingness to appear before the court provided that his doctors permitted it and the government accorded adequate security.

The judge, however, remarked that Musharraf has not appeared in the case for around 18 months.

The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former president at the last hearing of the case on April 8 maintaining that he had failed to seek permission from the court before leaving the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd,  2016.