F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: A trial court has accepted former president Gen Pervez Musharraf’s request to postpone the hearing of a treason case on medical grouds.
According to reports, a three-member bench headed by Justice Tahira Safdar adjourned the case hearing till June 12 when Musharaf’s counsel Salman Safdar told the court that his client could not travel to Pakistan due to his precarious health condition.
The court was told that he was ashamed and apologetic for not appearing in the court.
Former military ruler, Musharraf was scheduled to record his statement before the trial court, under the directives of the Supreme Court (SC), under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code to complete the treason trial.
He had requested the court to postpone the hearing until the end of Ramazan. The application also stated that in light of the life-threatening medical condition of the petitioner, supported by medical certificate and photographic evidences, his absence was caused by factors beyond human control.
On April 1, the Supreme Court had directed the special court to proceed with the trial on the next date of hearing (May 2).
But if he failed to appear, being a PO (proclaimed offender), the special court is empowered to proceed against him even in his absence under Section 9 of the High Treason (Punishment) Act, 1973, the SC had ruled.
Musharraf is facing treason trial under Article 6 of the Constitution as well as Section 2 of the High Treason Act.
He was indicted for high treason by a special court in March 2014, but left for Dubai in 2016 to “seek medical treatment” and has not returned since.
