Musharraf moves LHC

General Pervez Musharraf (retd) has approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the verdict reserved by the special court of Peshwar High Court in high treason case against him and prayed to the court to suspend the trial in absentia being conducted against him until his physical appearance before the court. The three-judge special court, headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth, had held on November 19 that a verdict based on available record would be pronounced on November 28.

LHC has fixed Musharraf's petition for a hearing on November 25 and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi will adjudicate upon it.

The counsel for Musharraf said the petitioner was allowed to travel abroad on medical grounds but the special court continued his trial in absentia.

He said the section 9 of the Criminal Law Amendments (Special Court) Act 1976, denies the accused an adjournment even on the grounds of illness.

He pleaded that the petitioner be granted his "constitutional right to a fair trial and audience in the instant trial" according to the law.

Musharraf pleaded that an independent medical board "at the expense of the petitioner" be constituted to assess his present medical condition.

He therefore prayed to the court to adjourn the trial until the petitioner's medical condition allows him for safe return to the country to face trial.

Musharraf had declared a state of emergency on November 3, 2007, that lasted till the mid of December during which the Constitution was held in abeyance.

He was indicted on March 31, 2014, and the prosecution had tabled the entire evidence before the special court in September the same year. The former president left Pakistan in March 2016 to seek medical treatment abroad.