By IANS,
Islamabad: A special court in Pakistan, trying former president Pervez Musharraf for high treason, Friday ordered him to appear before it Feb 18 after he again failed to attend the court’s proceedings.
The former army chief is facing the charge of high treason, which can carry the death sentence, for imposing Emergency and subverting the constitution in 2007.
The three-judge panel headed by Justice Faisal Arab accepted a petition seeking Musharraf’s exemption from appearing in the court during Friday’s proceedings, reported the Geo News.
The next hearing of the case is slated for Feb 10, but the former president is not required to attend.
During the court proceedings, Musharraf’s lawyers said a decision should also be reached on whether his trial could be moved to a military court.
His counsel Anwar Mansoor assured the court that his client would appear Feb 18.
“Pervez Musharraf will appear before the court after being discharged from the hospital,” Anwar said.
Justice Arab said an arrest warrant would again be issued for Musharraf if he failed to appear before the court.
On Jan 31, the court issued an arrest warrant as the former army chief repeatedly failed to appear before it and also rejected his application for medical treatment abroad.
Musharraf has been in a military hospital in Rawalpindi since Jan 2 when he complained of a heart problem while being driven to the court.
The 70-year-old has been charged with abrogating, subverting, suspending, holding in abeyance, and attempting to conspire against the 1973 Constitution by declaring Emergency and detaining judges of the superior courts.