ISLAMABAD: The special court formed to try the former President Pervez Musharraf for high treason on Tuesday granted him exemption from appearing before it for today and adjourned the hearing till Wednesday.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab and comprising Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali resumed hearing the treason case against Musharraf in Islamabad on Tuesday, during which his counsel Ahmed Raza Kasuri said that his client will appear before the court only after his security is ensured.
On Monday, in a the letter sent to the home secretary Punjab, the Islamabad police chief, the chief commissioner and other officials, the interior ministry warned that terrorists affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al Qaeda have planned to target former President Pervez Musharraf in the near future.
The interior ministry warned that the attackers have planned to assassinate Musharraf inside or outside the court. In addition, the ministry advised extreme vigilance and fool-proof security measures be taken to avoid any untoward incident.
During the today’s proceedings, Musharraf’s counsel presented security alert issued by the interior ministry before the court and said that his client will appear only after the court ensures his client’s security.
The prosecutor Akram Sheikh said that they will take security responsibility after the court orders to detain Musharraf.