Special court issues non-bailable arrest warrant for Musharraf

ISLAMABAD / RAWALPINDI: The special court on Friday issued non-bailable arrest warrant for former president Pervez Musharraf, applicable only if he fails to present before the court on March 31, Express News reported. 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. As the hearing of the treason case started today, a team of the federal police reached the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) in Rawalpindi to pick the former president up to take him to the court. The three-member bench, led by Justice Faisal Arab, had directed the former president on March 11 to appear in person before the special court to hear the charges being read out against him. On March 13, the special court maintained its decision to indict Musharraf on March 14 (today). During the hearing of the case today, Justice Arab said that the former president will be indicted even if he does not appear before the court today. Musharraf’s lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri, on the other hand, stated that this cannot happen as the former president’s presence was required for indictment. Musharraf’s legal team also submitted a new request, reiterating that the special court does not have the authority to summon Musharraf. Over three months ago, the 70-year-old had fallen ill and taken to AFIC where he is still under treatment. Kasuri speaks to media Kasuri, while speaking to the media in Islamabad, stated that it was difficult for Musharraf to appear before the court today because of security reasons. He said that the security in-charge has to submit a report regarding the security before the former president can appear before the court, adding that the report cannot be finished within 72 hours. He further said that the report needed at least 1-2 weeks. Kasuri also said that Prosecutor Akram Sheikh requested the court to read out the charge-sheet against Musharraf in front of the lawyers.