Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD: The special court on Thursday ordered that a medical board should be constituted to review former president Pervez Musharraf’s health condition, Express News reported.
The court had reserved this order after a letter from Musharraf’s US-based doctor was presented before the court. The letter stated that the former president should be immediately sent abroad for medical treatment.
The three-member bench stated that the medical board of Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) senior doctors should inform the court about how serious is Musharraf’s condition, does he need to undergo a surgery and how long will he remain in the hospital.
The medical board will have to send its response to the court on January 24.
Treatment abroad
The US-based doctor – after reviewing Musharraf's medical reports – recommended that the former military ruler should be immediately sent abroad for treatment.
Dr Arjumand Hashmi had treated Musharraf in the past. He expressed concern over Musharraf's heart condition and said the former ruler should be sent to his hospital in Texas, US for treatment.
Hashmi made this recommendation in a letter to Musharraf’s lawyers. His assessment was based on the medical reports of the former president.
Anwar Mansoor – who is representing Musharraf in the treason case – presented this letter before the special court.
The letter was written on January 9.
Musharraf was ordered to appear before the special court for the treason case today. The former president 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 was taken ill and rushed to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi on January 2 as he was being transported under heavy guard to the special court.
The special court reserved its decision and will announce it at 3pm today. The hearing of the case was adjourned to January 17.
The Islamabad High Court also dismissed a petition seeking exemption for Musharraf from appearing in person.
Ahmed Raza Kasuri
Musharraf's lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri, while talking to the media in Islamabad, stated that the special court bench formed to hear the treason case is unconstitutional.
"It was formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and not the federal government," Kasuri added, further stating that Nawaz is taking revenge from the former military ruler.
When questioned by a reporter about Musharraf's current medical status, Kasuri got emotional and stated that the journalist "must be a paid Indian reporter."
Judges detention case
Musharraf did not appear before an anti-terrorism court hearing the judges detention case.
Earlier today, the former president was ordered to appear before the court at 12pm even if he had to come in an ambulance.
Judge Attiqur Rehman said that Musharraf should appear before the court under any circumstances.
The hearing was adjourned to January 27.
On July 14, a special team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), probing into the charges of detaining senior judges on November 3, 2007 against the former military ruler, had decided to record the statements of superior court judges in an effort to make a strong case against the former president.
Musharraf was indicted by an anti-terrorism court judge in the case on June 15, 2013.
The case is based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered against Musharraf on August 11, 2009 by the Secretariat police for detaining over 60 judges including the now former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
On June 11 last year, the Islamabad High Court had granted the former president pre-arrest bail against surety bonds worth Rs 500,000.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had rejected Musharraf's bail application on April 18, 2013 and the former president was arrested. Later Musharraf was shifted to his farmhouse, which was declared a sub-jail at that time.
Correction: In an earlier version of this article, Musharraf's lawyer Anwar Mansoor was incorrectly mentioned as Anwar Maqsood.
COMMENTS (74)
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More drama. It is all an eyewash. The decision has already been made to let Musharraf escape and leave the country. The Establishment is enacting all this drama to fool the public. The new make-believe medical board will now certify that Mush's health problems are so bad that he can be treated only in the US or Europe.
that time will tell who is bigger politician. I am not student of law but i know one thing that goverment officer can not hold/run govet machinery untill and unless not elected from mass. if imposing emergency is legal in constition somewhere, in any mean, that elected govt may do not the dictator. there is no room for any dictator in constitution, i believe. 2nd thing that is dam clear that once Mush gone, will never come back as he proclaimed clearly in last few interviews that he never thought that treason case may be prosecuted-which means he admits that he has done blunder to come back.,@Taseer Siddiqui:
@Ajab Khan Baloch:
You must name first of all the man from the army who has the guts to dare take the man facing treason charge, out of the country?
Rex Minor
@Taseer Siddiqui:
Nawaz Sharif is not on trial! You could file a case against him for giving an illegal order.
Rex Minor
It is now beyaond doubt that Nawaz Sharif and his cronies are bent upot settling personal vendetta.Those challenging medical report are living in fools pardise. Musharrafs era was exeplary in the history point of view .Economic indicators havesteep down declined in post Musharraf period. Vengian is a wild justice be humane. "When an unjust judge judges horrible things happen but when the justice judges the unjust judge more horrible thigs happen."
First the health,then everything else.
Unfortunately most of the nation is cruel and they don't know what it is like to be working at the helm of affairs and serving the Army at such a position,as that of a COAS.
It's a shame how we are treating a true leader and hero today.
Long live sir Pervez Musharraf.
What makes anyone think we in the US want him here? If the US grants permission for that duplicitous weasel, who personally authorized the protection of bin Laden, to enter this country, I will know then just how far off-track our country has gone.
@Arshad Khan:
do you have a shred of evidence to support your contrived speech?
This is turning out to be such a farce. Musharraf has been demystified and made ridiculous; the man has lost all credibility and appeal. Given his bloated ego, that's probably a bigger punishment ultimately than an actual prison sentence.
@Ajab Khan Baloch:
You are an embarrasment as a Pakistani to condemn good leaders of Pakistan. Look Bush has ruined the economy by going to unnecessary war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I dont hear any condemnation of him from any quarters in USA.
Now in Pakistan Zardari and Nawaz has ruined the country' by borrowing from IMF and looting the countrys wealth. Nobody condemn it whereas President Musharraf has done so much for the country when he was in power (without corruption) and even when not in power he argue about Pakistan's case in international quarters. He is getting treated like that shame on the Pakistanis.
Some of the Indian troll's negative comment on Musharraf is understandable (as the Indians were kick butt by Musharraf and its their chance to settle score). Why Pakistanis are following on the Indian footsteps.
This special court and its judges are NS puppets. They are least concerned with the interests of Pakistan. PM is a hero. Nobody can find an example like him in the history of Pakistan who strived for country's progress and facing the situation bravely. He could have lived happily and comfortably throughout his entire life, but he had the bug for the love of this country. Those who are pointing to him should look at themselves in the mirror and recall their past. Everybody is a production of military and have the history of breaking constitution. But nobody has the thinking of Pakistan First. God bless you PM.
Present government and judges are all adamant to score their reveng*
If Mussharaf needs to be sent abroad then shut down AFIC and send its doctors abroad for training.
@M: why?
@Abrahim: Mush will call USA, UK, Saudis, Turkey and UAE before even going to NS.
I just wonder why thousands of Pakistanis facing lawsuits and languishing in jails are never told by any doctors, media people, politicians etc. etc. to go abroad for treatment or tend to their parents. Does this mean ordinary Pakistanis facing law neither have any health problem nor any parents? People any answer?
The drama with the end..........lol.
Moreover we are producing more engineers and doctors than in pakistan.So it is a win win situation for both countries as we get income and you get treatment.
Medical treatment is very expensive in US, so he can get the same treatment with 1/10th of the cost if he prefer in bangladesh.Wastage to tax payers money !
Why can't musharaf to be treated in most advanced facilities in hospitals like in dhaka.Even pakistani patients are looking for treatment in our country as such facilities are lacking in there home country ?
Only Musharaf cannot be held responsible alone because how can one person run the country for 9 years. @Sajid:
... yet another Drama to avoid Court appearance. Musharraf's apologists must realize the fact that the former Dictator has become a disgrace not only for Pakistan Army but for the entire Pakistani Nation. He has made Pakistanis a laughing stock in the world! The only favor that his Doctors can do is to pronounce him dead to end this quagmire once for all!
Musharraf is responsible for demoralizing the entire army. He should be punished.
i think what is happening with him is not justice and not following the constitution by true spirit is also a TREASON
100% Agreed@Samina kazmi:
I have a feeling that Justice Maulvi Mushtaq Hussain has got another life. Maulvi Mushtaq was also strict in application of laws without pardon. There was only one problem he was unaware of. There are some bees which can make anyone embarrassed. People run away leaving the dead body when they go after people.
US Doc to abandon or bail out
The army is above the law. Enough of the drama.
Court should constitute an independent medical board and get him evaluated there instead of believing on fake reports.
They get their minor treatments from abroad at the cost of public money but recommend others to get it here with third class medicines.They are wild animals by nature.No human value in front of them.
Allah will do the right justice! Long live PM
GO Musharraf GO... lol
Send him IMMEDIATELY....................Must say this is joke of the day.
It's a case of taking REVENGE from the former Ruler!
zardari was not facing any treason charges and above all he was president of pakistan. @Aschraful Makhlooq:
They gettheir minor treatments from abroad but want others to get it from here with third class medicines.No value of life for others as they are wild animals by nature.
The remaining part of "doctor's" statement: "Musharraf should be immediately sent abroad because generals are above the law in Pakistan"
Put the doctor behind bar,he seems to be hands in glove.
AFIC should recommend the further medical treatment not just one doctor. Who would believe that AFIC, the most prestigeous medical institution of Pakistan, cannot treat Mr Musharraf?
Of course this had to happen.Why did it take so long?
Pandora box is over and the case to be dismissed.
Musharraf should be a free man.
Fake medical condition and doctors fake recommendation. If u are over 50, consult any cardiologist, they will ask u to get admitted anyway with some medical jargon,
Tell us something new. It was always on the cards.