Court orders formation of medical board to review Musharraf's health

ISLAMABAD: The special court hearing the treason case of former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has ordered the formation of a medical board.

The board comprising of senior AFIC doctors will be tasked with ascertaining the medical condition of Musharraf and present its findings before the court on January 24.

The special court has adjourned the hearing of the treason case till Friday.

Earlier during proceedings, Pervez Musharraf once again did not appear before the special court due to his health condition.

The certificate pertaining to the inability of Pervez Musharraf to appear before the court was produced by his lawyer.

Prosecutor Akram Sheikh argued that the court summoned Musharraf six times but the accused did not appear before the bench which can be considered contempt of the court. He further contended that courts do not wait for the accused and then quoted the example of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak who was brought on a stretcher.

He said the accused loses the right to defend himself if he does not surrender to the court.

Anwar Mansoor, the counsel of Musharraf, told the court that he had to reach Islamabad High Court to submit intra-court appeal.

A three-judge bench of the court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab, had summoned the former president after giving its verdict pertaining to the proceedings of the case under criminal procedure.

Musharraf had fallen ill en route to the court on January 02. The former president was taken to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology where has been receiving treatment.