Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf, implicated in a high treason case under Article 6, has requested the special bench to exempt him from appearing in-person before the court for at least 14 weeks.

In a written request through his counsel Advocate Faisal Chaudhry, Musharraf contended that he had to proceed abroad for his medical treatment after remaining admitted to different hospitals in Pakistan. He said doctors after conducting various tests advised him surgical procedure to avoid serious complications. Since the prescribed treatment could not be facilitated in Pakistan, he proceeded abroad after his name was removed from the ECL with the permission of the top court and the consent of the Interior Ministry.

Major-General (r) Rashid Qureshi, in his submission on the query as to why the surety amount be not forfeited if the former military ruler does not appear before the court, stated that neither the accused nor he were ever directed to appear before the court.

In a separate written reply through the same counsel, he further contended that it was evident from the record that neither the federal government nor the court directed the respondent in reference to restrict him from going abroad. He submitted that when the government and courts upheld the removal of Musharraf’s name from the ECL and did not restrain his movement in spite of having knowledge about the order of the special court, expecting from him to regulate the movement of the accused would be unfair and harsh.

He prayed that in the larger interest of the justice, the special court should not forfeit the surety amount.