Special Court asks if govt serious in pursuing case against Musharraf

Questions why former president was allowed to go abroad without court’s permission

ISLAMABAD: The special court hearing the treason case against former President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday expressed its displeasure over his departure from the country after his name was struck off the Exit Control List (ECL).

The court questioned if the government was interested in pursuing the case against the former president or not and asked why Musharraf had been allowed to go without the permission of the court. Justice Mazhar Alam inquired from the state counsel whether the government was unaware about the special court orders in the case.

In reply, the counsel Akram Sheikh said the government had cognizance of the court orders. The court also summoned Interior Secretary Arif Khan and directed him to file an explanation over Musharraf’s departure within 15 days.

The secretary replied that it was the personal responsibility of Musharraf to appear before the court, which he had promised. He was allowed to go abroad on humanitarian basis, the secretary told the court.

It is worth mentioning that the former president, who faces charges of treason and murder, left the country on March 18 and arrived in Dubai for urgent medical treatment after a three-year travel ban was lifted.

Lawyers for the former president have said he needs urgent medical treatment not available in Pakistan. The court issued a notice to Major Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi, guarantor of the former president, and directed the authorities concerned to produce Musharraf on April 19 or the bail plea of the accused would be cancelled.