Musharraf ordered to appear in special court today

The special court formed to try Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf on Jan 2 resumed its hearing and ordered the former military dictator to appear in court before 11:30 and warned that warrants for his arrest would be issued in case of failuer to comply with the court’s orders, DawnNews reported.

Earlier during the day, the court took a short recess following a walk-out staged by the counsel for the former president.
Former military strongman did not appear for today’s hearing whereas his lawyer Anwer Mansoor staged a walk-out from the special court citing a lack of sleep over alleged disturbances outside the door of his residence adding that he had never faced such an incident in his 40-year career.
Moreover, the head of Musharraf’s defence team senior lawyer Sharifuddin Pirzada, claimed that chief prosecutor in the case Advocate Akram Shaikh had hurled alleged threats to him via Barrister Ibrahim Satti, who is another counsel for the former president.
Advocate Pirzada further hinted that his client may appear before the bench of the special court today.
The court took a short recess to resolve the issues of the disgruntled lawyer of the former military strongman.
The treason hearing against Musharraf resumed amid strict security arrangements from his farmhouse to the court premises and around it.
The security arrangements made over the expected arrival of the former president included mobile phone jammers, at least 1,000 police personnel, deployment of containers to cordon off traffic and bomb scanners.
The court on Jan 1, had ordered for Musharraf to appear before the bench today and also warned of issuing a ruling, in case the former president did not appear. Moreover, the legal team of the former military strongman had also filed a plea in the special court to exempt him from appearing before it on account of threats to his security.
Former president General Pervez Musharraf is being prosecuted under Article 6 of the Constitution for imposing an emergency in the country on Nov 3, 2007 and the detention of superior judiciary.

Source: Dawn News