Court rules not to issue arrest warrants for Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: A special court hearing the treason case against General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has decided not to issue arrest warrants for the former military ruler due to his sudden illness.

A three-member bench of the special court led by Justice Faisal Arab granted exemption to Musharraf from appearing before it today on medical grounds.

Counsel of the Pervez Musharraf‚ Khalid Ranjha told the court that his client was on his way to court when he had to be shifted to Armed Forces of Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) due to cardiac pain.

At the outset of today’s proceedings‚ the court said it will issue an appropriate order if Pervez Musharraf did not appear before it today.

Musharraf's lawyers walked out of court, complaining of being threatened and harassed.

Anwar Mansoor Khan, one of the lawyers, told the court he has been receiving threats and was unable to sleep the night before the hearing.

"I faced threats... from 1:00 am to five in the morning. Someone was banging on my door and ringing my bell," Khan told the court.

When one of the judges asked who was threatening him, Khan answered: "This very government."

The court promised to investigate but Khan walked out of court, followed by other members of Musharraf's legal team.

"This never happened in my 40 years of practice. I will walk out," Khan said.

Sharifuddin Pirzada, another of Musharraf's lawyers, also complained that he had been threatened.

Later, the hearing was adjourned till Monday.