Pakistan's former President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday appeared in a special court to face high treason charges for abrogating constitution in 2007, his lawyers said.
This is the first time Musharraf appeared before the judges, hearing high treason charges.
The three-member special court had issued bailable arrest warrant for Musharraf on Jan. 31 after he did not appear despite several orders. His lawyers had argued that he could not come to the court due to health problems.
Musharraf was taken to a military hospital last month when he was heading to the court to stand in the high treason case.
The court had hinted to issue unbailable arrest warrant if he could not appear on Feb. 18.
The former military president was brought in high security from the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in the garrison city of Rawalpindi near Islamabad.
The hospital had earlier presented a medical report in the court and the court ruled that there is nothing serious in the report to stop Musharraf from court's appearance.
Special prosecutor, Akram Sheikh, had prayed to the court to issue Musharraf's arrest warrant as he intentionally avoided appearance in the court.
The medical report said Musharraf had refused to undergo angiography in Pakistan and wants it outside the country and in hospital of his choice.
The court had earlier observed that Musharraf is not too sick to avoid appearance. Medical experts said that all facilities for his treatment are available in Pakistan and there is no need to take him out of the country for treatment.
The former president, who is accused of abrogating the constitution in 2007, cannot leave the country as his name is included in the list of those who need special permission to go abroad.
Musharraf had already got bails in three high profile cases including the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. She was killed in a suicide bomb attack and gunshots during Musharraf's rule in Rawalpindi.
This is the first time Musharraf appeared before the judges, hearing high treason charges.
The three-member special court had issued bailable arrest warrant for Musharraf on Jan. 31 after he did not appear despite several orders. His lawyers had argued that he could not come to the court due to health problems.
Musharraf was taken to a military hospital last month when he was heading to the court to stand in the high treason case.
The court had hinted to issue unbailable arrest warrant if he could not appear on Feb. 18.
The former military president was brought in high security from the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in the garrison city of Rawalpindi near Islamabad.
The hospital had earlier presented a medical report in the court and the court ruled that there is nothing serious in the report to stop Musharraf from court's appearance.
Special prosecutor, Akram Sheikh, had prayed to the court to issue Musharraf's arrest warrant as he intentionally avoided appearance in the court.
The medical report said Musharraf had refused to undergo angiography in Pakistan and wants it outside the country and in hospital of his choice.
The court had earlier observed that Musharraf is not too sick to avoid appearance. Medical experts said that all facilities for his treatment are available in Pakistan and there is no need to take him out of the country for treatment.
The former president, who is accused of abrogating the constitution in 2007, cannot leave the country as his name is included in the list of those who need special permission to go abroad.
Musharraf had already got bails in three high profile cases including the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. She was killed in a suicide bomb attack and gunshots during Musharraf's rule in Rawalpindi.
Source: News in Hindi
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