Special court orders constitution of medical board to review Musharraf’s health

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The special court on Thursday ordered that a medical board should be constituted to review former president Pervez Musharraf’s health condition.

The court had reserved this order after a letter from Musharraf’s US-based doctor was presented before the court. The letter stated that the former president should be immediately sent abroad for medical treatment.

The three-member bench stated that the medical board of Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) senior doctors should inform the court about how serious is Musharraf’s condition, does he need to undergo a surgery and how long will he remain in the hospital.

The medical board will have to send its response to the court on January 24.

US ACQUAINTANCE

The US-based doctor – after reviewing Musharraf’s medical reports – recommended that the former military ruler should be immediately sent abroad for treatment.

Dr Arjumand Hashmi had treated Musharraf in the past. He expressed concern over Musharraf’s heart condition and said the former ruler should be sent to his hospital in Texas, US for treatment.

Hashmi made this recommendation in a letter to Musharraf’s lawyers. His assessment was based on the medical reports of the former president.

Anwar Maqsood – who is representing Musharraf in the treason case – presented this letter before the special court.

The letter was written on January 9.

The hearing of the case was adjourned to January 17.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) also dismissed a petition seeking exemption for Musharraf from appearing in person.

AHMED RAZA KASURI’S RAGE

Musharraf’s lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri, while talking to the media in Islamabad, stated that the special court bench formed to hear the treason case is unconstitutional.

“It was formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and not the federal government,” Kasuri added, further stating that Nawaz is taking revenge from the former military ruler.

When questioned by a reporter about Musharraf’s current medical status, Kasuri got emotional and stated that the journalist “must be a paid Indian reporter.”

Former president Pervez Musharraf on Thursday did not appear in the special court hearing of treason trial against him.

The court adjourned the hearing till tomorrow (Friday.) It is likely that the court would consider issuance of his arrest warrant.

The hearing resumed earlier on Thursday. Headed by Justice Faisal Arab, the court had summoned Musharraf to appear in the hearing after giving its verdict pertaining to the proceedings of the case under criminal procedure last week. The court warned that it would issue an order against the former president if he failed to appear before it on Jan 16.

Musharraf’s counsel, Anwar Mansoor submitted a reply to the court which said his client could not appear in court today on account of his ill health.

The doctors have recommended that Musharraf be treated at a hospital in France, the same medical facility where he once underwent tests, the reply added.

MUSHARRAF’S ABSENCE IRKED ATC

Meanwhile, Musharraf’s absence also irked the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) which gave timelines to the defence team of the former dictator to produce him before the court through any means in the judges detention case by 12pm on Thursday, a private news channel reported.

ATC Judge Atiq-ur-Rehman was hearing the case.

Musharraf’s lawyer, Ilyas Siddiqui told the bench that his client could not appear before the court as he was under treatment at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC).

In reply, the court ordered to produce Musharraf by 12:00PM in any case, even if an air ambulance is required to transport him to the court.

At 12pm, the court extended the timeline till 12:30pm to produce Musharraf.

The court resumed at 12:30pm. Hearing is now underway.

7 COMMENTS

    • Otherwise what? It would be outright stupidity to accede to what the legal norms are when the dubious roles of the government and the judiciary are so evident in the formation of this special court.

      • .
        It' also evident that Mush got enough time 'grease-up' his 'jelly-bean heart' in the past couple of weeks …
        .

  1. Musharraf is being given special treatment. Imagine an ordinary person (poor person) who is wanted by the law court to appear for a hearing in a murder case and just as serious a treason case and that ordinary person repeatedly failed to appear at the court with the excuse of medical problem and then to further disgrace the law court and say that he be permitted to leave the country. Would an ordinary (poor person) be allowed by the court to get away with all this. I think not. This has set a precedence where the law courts will have to treat any the person facing a murder charge the same as Musharraf and allow the ordinary person not to appear in the court. That is a disgrace. Such law courts do not deserve any respect. Everybody should be treated equal under the law.

  2. SO far, I thought that Justice Faisal Arab, has "Arab" as hiss surname. But following the case proceedings, I doubt he has just laded from an Arab country. Any same mind already knows what the revised report would be. If at all he was serious in his action, he could have constituted board of neutral doctors from outside AFIC.

  3. treason cases should also be register against politicians,judges ,election commission for violating articles 62,63.and 140A relating to LB

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