Continued absence : IHC seeks Musharraf’s medical report
Former president’s counsel says other courts have accepted exemption plea.
Former president’s counsel says other courts have accepted exemption plea. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought the medical report of former president General (retired) Pervez Musharraf in a murder case pertaining to a cleric of Lal Masjid.
While issuing notices to the plaintiff, Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi directed the counsel for the former president to submit his medical report and inform the court what action has so far been taken on the recommendation of the medical board.
Musharraf has challenged the non-bailable arrest warrants issued in his name by a district and sessions court in Islamabad. On June 19, District and Sessions Judge Kamran Bisharat Mufti issued warrants for Musharaf over his repeated absence in the murder trial of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi.
In the petition, Musharraf’s counsel Malik Tahir Mahmood stated that the trial court did not adopt the right procedure as envisaged under the law, acted hastily and decided the matter arbitrarily hence the impugned order is liable to be set aside.
Mahmood stated that Musharraf was in Karachi where a medical board constituted upon the directions of an anti-terrorism court in Quetta examined him and advised him not to travel due to certain diseases duly mentioned in the report. Subsequently, the court in Quetta exempted Musharraf from appearance, he added.
The report was presented before the special bench, which is conducting proceeding under Article 6 of the Constitution and the same was allowed, Mahmood said.
Even the ATC Islamabad considered the report and exempted the petitioner from personal appearance, he added.
The petition requested the court to set aside the non-bailable arrest warrants.
Aabpara Police had registered an FIR against Musharraf in 2013 for his alleged role in the murder of Ghazi and his mother during the 2007 Lal Masjid operation.
Following the hearing, the court adjourned the case till a date to be fixed by the registrar office.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2015.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought the medical report of former president General (retired) Pervez Musharraf in a murder case pertaining to a cleric of Lal Masjid.
While issuing notices to the plaintiff, Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi directed the counsel for the former president to submit his medical report and inform the court what action has so far been taken on the recommendation of the medical board.
Musharraf has challenged the non-bailable arrest warrants issued in his name by a district and sessions court in Islamabad. On June 19, District and Sessions Judge Kamran Bisharat Mufti issued warrants for Musharaf over his repeated absence in the murder trial of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi.
In the petition, Musharraf’s counsel Malik Tahir Mahmood stated that the trial court did not adopt the right procedure as envisaged under the law, acted hastily and decided the matter arbitrarily hence the impugned order is liable to be set aside.
Mahmood stated that Musharraf was in Karachi where a medical board constituted upon the directions of an anti-terrorism court in Quetta examined him and advised him not to travel due to certain diseases duly mentioned in the report. Subsequently, the court in Quetta exempted Musharraf from appearance, he added.
The report was presented before the special bench, which is conducting proceeding under Article 6 of the Constitution and the same was allowed, Mahmood said.
Even the ATC Islamabad considered the report and exempted the petitioner from personal appearance, he added.
The petition requested the court to set aside the non-bailable arrest warrants.
Aabpara Police had registered an FIR against Musharraf in 2013 for his alleged role in the murder of Ghazi and his mother during the 2007 Lal Masjid operation.
Following the hearing, the court adjourned the case till a date to be fixed by the registrar office.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2015.