Show up on 18, special court tells Musharraf

ISLAMABAD-

The former president Pervez Musharraf has been summoned on February 18 by the special court hearing the treason case against him.

During today’s hearing at the National Library the court bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab, allowed exemption of Musharraf from a court appearance for the day, summoning him to appear for the next hearing.

Justice Arab remarked that a non-bailable warrant for Musharraf would be issued if he failed to appear before the court.

Musharraf’s counsel Anwar Mansoor assured the court that his client would appear on February 18.

Mansoor said that the special court desires to bring Musharraf to court and indict him.

Mansoor argued that it was indispensable that Musharraf’s requests challenging the formation of the special court are addressed before the former president is tried.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned till February 10.
Earlier today, security forces arrived at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) to take Musharraf to the special court.

Also on Friday, the Registrar Office of the Supreme Court returned the petition filed by Musharraf against the bailable arrest warrant after raising objections.

The special court had issued the arrest warrant against the former dictator on January 31st.

On Tuesday, Musharraf’s lawyers had moved the SC against the arrest warrant of the Special Court trying him in the high treason case under Article 6 of the Constitution for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts.

According to the Registrar Office, the SC cannot hear this petition and a relevant forum should be contacted for the case.