ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Former President Pervez Musharraf is reportedly out of danger and will spend next couple of days at AFIC hospital. Special court conducting his treason trial ruled not to issue arrest warrants for failing to appear before the court.
Furthermore, reports of transferring Musharraf abroad for treatment purposes are also circulating however Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated no such decision has been taken. Pervez Musharraf was being escorted to court from his farm house in Chak Shahzad under strict security -- with over fifteen hundred security personnel deployed on the route and another hundreds outside court. Musharraf complained of cardiac pain just as his envoy reached Rawal dam at which point the envoy was diverted towards Rawalpindi where doctor ruled it as heart attack.
The earlier reports suggested that Musharraf’s transfer abroad for further treatment was under consideration; however, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif ruled out the possibility saying no such decision is under consideration. He maintained that the only relief that can be given is through court.
After meeting with the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Asif added that all medical facilities are available in the country however government will not object if court permits the transfer abroad. Following his failure to appear before the court, judges of the special court deliberated in their chambers for several hours and ruled not to issue arrest warrants.
Special prosecutor Akram Sheikh had sought arrest warrant of the former president and special court’s ruling in this regard was highly anticipated. Musharraf failed to appear before court also on Wednesday and on December 24 after explosive material was found near his home on the way to court. Musharraf is under treatment for heart attack in military hospital AFIC (Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology) and is expected to stay under observation for at least four more days, Dunya News reported.
Special prosecutors insist the final say will be of the court which ruled hours ago, as per sources. Special registrar of the court briefed the media about the ruling. Reportedly, Defense Counsels had complained about the alleged harassments and threats ever since the treason case started. Former president Pervez Musharraf is on trial for treason under article 6 of the constitution for his steps taken on November 3, 2007.
The hearing had resumed in the special court headed by Justice Faisal Arab earlier today and former president was supposed to appear before the court. Special prosecutor Akram Sheikh, in his arguments alleged that Pervez Musharraf’s heart problem was played out to avoid his appearance in court and that a court notice was due in this regard. At which point, the prosecutors pleaded the court to issue non bailable arrest warrants against the former dictator.
One of the defense counsels‚ Khalid Ranjha rebutted the prosecutor by assuring the court that his client was taken to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology following his severe cardiac pain. The court adjourned the hearing until Monday January 6, and following the deliberation in their chambers, resolved not to issue arrest warrants for Pervez Musharraf.
Reportedly, court had made it clear at the beginning of proceedings that a needful order will be issued if Musharraf failed to appear before the court today. It merits mentioning here that Musharraf had failed to appear before the court a number of times before as well and on Wednesday’s hearing, court ordered to ensure his appearance on Thursday, failing which, the court was to issue arrest warrants.
Defense counsels have constantly sought exemption for Musharraf from appearing before court on security grounds. However the court had refused to grant exemption and instead sanctioned appropriate security on his way to court.
Former president was being escorted under court sanctioned foolproof security that consisted on box security protocol with over fifteen hundred security personnel deployed on the way to court and hundreds of them outside court. Security plan also included CCTV cameras on the said route and a bomb disposal squad with the convoy.
During the course of court proceedings, defense counsel Anwar Mansoor submitted before the court that he was allegedly being harassed and threatened, rendering him unable to sleep at night. Mansoor added that someone has constantly been ‘banging’ his door and ringing his door bell from 1 AM till five in the morning.
The court asked who was threatening the counsel, upon which Mansoor accused government to be behind the alleged scare tactics. The court assured to order investigation in the matter but the counsel appeared to be uneasy upon which he walked out of the court along with another member of defense counsels. Former military dictator is being tried for imposing emergency rule in November 2007 which suspended constitution and government institutions.
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