In a major setback to country’s former military ruler, Special court hearing treason charges against General (Retd) Parvez Musharraf has ordered him to appear in person before the court on January 16.

Islamabad, Jan 10/Nationalturk – Pakistan’s Special court hearing treason charges against country’s former military ruler and president General (Retd) Parvez Musharraf ordered him to appear in person before the court on January 16.

After receiving Pervez Musharraf’s medical reports from Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Rawalpindi, where the former military ruler is admitted, on Tuesday, the three-member special court had ruled that it would examine the medical reports and deliver the verdict today.

After hearing arguments and counter arguments from defence and prosecution and taking careful review of former military ruler’s medical reports, the special court ordered Musharraf to appear personally in the court on January 16.

‘If he fails to appear, appropriate order will be issued’

“If Musharraf fails to appear before the bench, appropriate order will be issued,” the court said.

The former general faces five charges of violating the constitution in November, 2007, when he introduced emergency powers which deposed more than 60 judges of the supreme and high courts and suspended the constitution. If convicted, he can face death sentence or life term.

‘Treason case will be heard under code of criminal procedure’

The special court on Friday announced that the high treason case against Pervez Musharraf will be heard under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The decision to try him under the penal code grants the court the authority to issue an arrest warrant against the accused.

The decision was made by a three-member bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab on January 9 and Arab read out a part of the verdict today.

‘Musharraf’s presence has become headache for civilian government’

US newspaper, Los Angeles Times had reported yesterday that Musharraf’s presence in Pakistan has become a headache for the political government in the country.

“General (retd) Musharraf’s days in Pakistan appear to be numbered now that the former strongman has spent nearly a week in a military hospital complaining of health problems while avoiding a court appearance on treason charges,” the US newspaper had said in its report.

Musharraf’s wife, who lives in Dubai, has asked the Interior Ministry for permission for him to travel abroad for medical treatment, and officials close to the country’s security services said he could depart within days.

“It is good for everybody — including Musharraf — that he would go out of the country,” a senior security official in Islamabad had told the US newspaper.

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