Non-bailable arrest warrant against Musharraf suspended

Islamabad, April 8: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday suspended the non-bailable arrest warrant issued against Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf for the alleged murder of a former Lal Masjid cleric.

IHC Justice Noorul Haq N. Qureshi directed Musharraf to appear before the additional sessions judge on April 27, 2015, Dawn online reported.

In 2013, police registered a case against Musharraf for the alleged murder of cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi and his wife during the Lal Masjid military operation. Musharraf faces a string of cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, including the death of Ghazi when more than 100 people were killed after troops stormed the Lal Masjid here on July 10, 2007.

The mosque was the scene of a week-long military siege against radicals who unleashed a wave of militant attacks across Pakistan.

Justice Qureshi also directed Musharraf's counsel to submit an affidavit regarding the appearance of his client.

On April 2, Additional District and Sessions Judge Wajid Ali Khan issued a non-bailable arrest warrant over the former president's failure to appear in the court despite repeated summons.

On April 1, Musharraf was examined by a medical board, after two previous attempts by the board, for which he did not turn up before the board members at the Sindh Services' Hospital (SSH), citing security reasons.

Musharraf's counsel has previously excused the former president's absence in court due to medical conditions that allegedly render him unfit to travel.

On April 3, the former army strongman challenged the non-bailable arrest warrants issued in his name by an Islamabad sessions court.

Musharraf also faces treason charges over his imposition of emergency rule in 2007. He further faces murder accusations over the 2006 death of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

IANS