Treason trial: Special court summons Musharraf on Jan 16
The decision was taken after careful review of Musharraf’s medical report.
In this picture taken on February 13, 2006, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf waves to the crowd during the third One Day International cricket match between Pakistan and India at The Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The special court on Thursday summoned former president Pervez Musharraf to court on January 16, Express News reported.
While announcing the order, the court said if Musharraf fails to appear before the bench, appropriate order will be issued.
The decision was taken after careful review of Musharraf’s medical report. The bench said no written request for exemption was received from Musharraf's counsel.
Musharraf was accused of treason 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 had fallen ill and taken to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi on January 2 as he was being transported under heavy guard to the court.
Prosecutor Akram Sheikh earlier today requested the court to summon Musharraf to attend case hearings.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Sheikh said Musharraf’s medical report does not mention any condition that should become a reason to skip hearings.
He pointed out that the former military chief has not undergone angiography since he was admitted to the hospital and that proves his condition was not serious.
“The hospital will of course not expel its patient; it is Musharraf’s prerogative whether to check out or not,” he said, implying that the former president was using the hospital as a place to hide and avoid court hearings.
The prosecutor also said that Pakistan has many good medical centres and there was no need to send Musharraf abroad for treatment.
Applauding former president Asif Ali Zardari for appearing before the court to hear charges against him, Sheikh said it was sad to see a former head of the reputed army to run away from trial.
Rejecting these claims, Musharraf’s advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri said the former president needed more time to rest and recover. He stressed that Musharraf’s health condition was serious.
Kasuri further criticised the media access to Musharraf’s medical report and called it a privacy breach.
The advocate said his side will request the court to exempt the former president from court hearings until he completely recovers.
The special court on Thursday summoned former president Pervez Musharraf to court on January 16, Express News reported.
While announcing the order, the court said if Musharraf fails to appear before the bench, appropriate order will be issued.
The decision was taken after careful review of Musharraf’s medical report. The bench said no written request for exemption was received from Musharraf's counsel.
Musharraf was accused of treason 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 had fallen ill and taken to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi on January 2 as he was being transported under heavy guard to the court.
Prosecutor Akram Sheikh earlier today requested the court to summon Musharraf to attend case hearings.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Sheikh said Musharraf’s medical report does not mention any condition that should become a reason to skip hearings.
He pointed out that the former military chief has not undergone angiography since he was admitted to the hospital and that proves his condition was not serious.
“The hospital will of course not expel its patient; it is Musharraf’s prerogative whether to check out or not,” he said, implying that the former president was using the hospital as a place to hide and avoid court hearings.
The prosecutor also said that Pakistan has many good medical centres and there was no need to send Musharraf abroad for treatment.
Applauding former president Asif Ali Zardari for appearing before the court to hear charges against him, Sheikh said it was sad to see a former head of the reputed army to run away from trial.
Rejecting these claims, Musharraf’s advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri said the former president needed more time to rest and recover. He stressed that Musharraf’s health condition was serious.
Kasuri further criticised the media access to Musharraf’s medical report and called it a privacy breach.
The advocate said his side will request the court to exempt the former president from court hearings until he completely recovers.