Pervez Musharraf taken to hospital with ‘heart trouble’ on way to court

Special court exempts Musharraf from appearance till recovery

Also decides not to issue his arrest warrants

Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf was rushed to hospital on Thursday after suffering a “heart problem” on his way to court for a hearing in his treason case.

The 70-year-old had been summoned to the special court after failing to show up for two previous sessions due to security threats against him.

Musharraf’s team says the allegations, which relate to his imposition of emergency rule in November 2007, are politically motivated and his lawyers have challenged the authority of the three-judge tribunal.

He is the first former army chief to go on trial in Pakistan, setting up a potentially destabilising clash between the government – which brought the charges – and the all-powerful military.

Jan Mohammad, a senior police official, told the court that Musharraf had fallen ill while being transported to the hearing under heavy security.

“He has been shifted to Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology after he got heart problem,” Mohammad said.

Security was tight at the hospital in Rawalpindi with soldiers and paramilitary Rangers standing guard.

An aide to Musharraf, who is facing a series of criminal cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, said the retired general was in “bad shape”.

A statement from his spokesman Raza Bokhari said Musharraf was conscious and “oriented in time and space” and was being examined by military doctors.

COURT PROCEEDINGS:

Earlier on Thursday Musharraf’s lawyers walked out of court, complaining of being threatened and harassed.

Anwar Mansoor Khan, one of the lawyers, told the court he has been receiving threats and was unable to sleep the night before the hearing.

“I was under total threat from 1am to five in the morning. Someone was banging on my door and ringing my bell,” Khan told the court.

When one of the judges asked who was threatening him, Khan answered: “This very government.”

The court promised to investigate but Khan walked out of court, followed by other members of Musharraf’s legal team.

“This never happened in my 40 years of practice. I will walk out,” Khan said.

Musharraf’s lawyers have previously said the treason case is an attempt by the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – whom Musharraf ousted in a coup in 1999 – to settle old scores through the courts.

Sharifuddin Pirzada, another of Musharraf’s lawyers, also complained that he had been threatened.

During the course of proceedings, Musharraf’s counsel Rana Ejaz told the court that prosecutor Akram Sheikh had threatened that he would throw a shoe at the former president when he comes to court. “Akram Sheikh has assured Nawaz Sharif that he will insult Musharraf,” the counsel claimed.

Ibrahim Satti told the court that Akram Sheikh has said that Sharifuddin Pirzada has spent his entire life in supporting martial law. “Pervez Musharraf is not his target but his target is Sharifuddin Pirzada,” Satti quoted Akram Sheikh as having said.

Akram Sheikh said he had threatened no one. “We have come here to give arguments and not for wrestling. Musharraf lawyers are targeting me in my personal capacity,” he said.

MUSHARRAF GETS EXEMPTION:

Later in the day, the special court exempted Musharraf from appearance till full recovery from his heart ailment, and also decided not to issue arrest warrants of the former president. The hearing of the treason case was then adjourned till January 6.

HEALTH CONDITION:

Sources at the hospital said doctors will decide whether Musharraf should be shifted abroad for further treatment based on the results of angiography.

“For now a VVIP room in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital has been prepared for Musharraf and there’s a complete ban on entry of any unauthorized personnel in the room,” they said.