Pakistani court orders Musharraf to appear in treason case

ISLAMABAD - A special court in Pakistan, which hears high treason case against former President Pervez Musharraf for abrogation of the constitution, on Thursday ordered him to appear on Jan 16.

General (retired) Pevez Musharraf has not appeared on at least three occasions despite the court's orders and the court in its order said that an appropriate order will be issued if he did not appear on the next hearing.

The former leader was taken to a military hospital on January 2 when he was on his way to the court, according to his defense lawyers.

The Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology where Musharraf is being treated had submitted his medical report, listing nine diseases including heart problem.

The three-member special court, however, said on Thursday that according to medical report, Parvez Musharraf had not suffered heart attack.

The order, read out by Registrar Special Court Abdul Ghani Soomro, said the court will issue its judgment on the applicability of criminal procedure code in treason case on Friday.

Special prosecutor Akram Sheikh told the court that Musharraf' s medical report indicated that that he is not too ill to skip court's appearance. He requested the court to issue arrest warrant for the accused as he is avoiding appearance. The court, however, did not issue any arrest warrant.

Musahrraf's defence counsel Ahmed Reza Kasuri, however, claimed that his client is serious sick and cannot appear before the court. He told reporters that the hospital has not discharged the former President and has advised him more rest.

Another defence lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said the defence lawyers had prayed to the court for Musharraf's exemption due to his health problems. He also said Musharraf could appear in the court on January 16 if he feeling well.

Musharraf was accused of suspending the constitution when he imposed emergency rule in 2007. He dismissed the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999 and later sent him into exile.