Musharraf's medical report handed over to court

, Jan 7: Former Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf's medical report was today submitted to a special

conducting his treason trial and a decision on it would be taken after review.

The special court, formed by the government to try 70-year-old Musharraf on charges of high treason for imposing emergency in 2007, exempted him from appearing personally yesterday, but asked authorities to submit his medical records by 11.30 am today.

The report, submitted in a sealed envelope by the registrar of the special court Abdul Ghani Soomro, was demanded by the court from the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi where Musharraf is admitted after complaining of heart problem on his way to court last week.

Justice Faisal Arab‚, the head of the special court‚, said that the court will give its decision on the report after reviewing it. Musharraf's counsel Anwar Mansoor, during today's proceedings, said the special court had a limited mandate and he did not view Akram Shaikh as the chief prosecutor in the case.

Mansoor also apologised to the court for the arguments that took place during yesterday's proceedings. A war of words had ensued between the legal defence team of Musharraf and the prosecution at the special court after the prosecutor called the former Pakistani military ruler a "fugitive" who was "hiding" at the military hospital.

Musharraf's lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri, while speaking to the media outside the court, criticised prosecutor Sheikh and said this treason case was not a trial of the former president, but of the institution of the armed forces.

"Prosecutor termed AFIC as hideout, and called Musharraf as fugitive. This is an insult to Pakistan Army," Kasuri told reporters.

Musharraf served for 40 years, but is now being accused of "hiding in military hospital, is this justifiable?" he asked. The former President, who plotted the Kargil conflict and staged a bloodless coup in 1999, was rushed to the AFIC after complaining of heart problem on his way to court to face the treason trial on January 2.

He faces treason charges for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts. It is the first time in Pakistan's history that a former military ruler has been put on trial for treason, a charge that entails life imprisonment or death penalty if convicted.

There is intense speculation that Musharraf is likely to be flown out of the country for treatment. His detractors say the military is supporting him though there has not been any public support by the armed forces.

PTI