Court summons Musharraf on Feb 18 after he skips hearing
Islamabad: A special court trying Pervez Musharraf for treason today summoned the beleaguered former dictator to appear on February 18 and warned a non-bailable arrest warrant would be issued if he failed to do so.
He was admitted to a military hospital in Rawalpindi after he developed heart problems on January 2.
On January 31, the court issued a bailable arrest warrant and observed that Musharraf's absence from the hearings was deliberate.
Major Gen (retired) Rashid Qureshi, a close aide of the former military ruler, deposited surety bonds of Rs 2.5 million as directed by the court.
Sources said the court would issue a final order this evening that might also decide on the surety bonds submitted on Musharraf's behalf.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Mohammad Ali Saif, a key member of Musharraf's legal team, said: “Musharraf will appear before the court on February 18 once the doctors allow him. We have challenged the setting up of the special court and the appointment of the prosecutor. The court should decide on those pleas first.”
Mansoor said in court that Musharraf's petitions challenging the appointment of the prosecutor and judges should be taken up first.
He said it would be injustice to his client if the case proceeded without deciding these petitions.
Justice Arab said the case had already been deferred on three consecutive hearings because of the defence lawyers.
In a separate development, the Supreme Court's Registrar returned a petition filed by Musharraf against the bailable arrest warrant issued by the special court after raising objections.
The Registrar said the apex court could not hear the petition and Musharraf should contact the relevant forum.