Treason case: Musharraf's medical report handed to judges

ISLAMABAD: The special court constituted to try Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf for treason on Friday resumed the case’s hearing.

The special court comprises of three high court judges and is headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court.

During Friday’s hearing, registrar Abdul Ghani Soomro handed Musharraf’s medical report to the judges, following which, the former military ruler’s counsel Anwar Mansoor said the assessment of Musharraf’s heath should be kept private.

Mansoor complained that a private television channel had published one of Musharraf’s medical reports on its website and requested the court to issue an order for its removal.

Following which, chief prosecutor Akram Shaikh said the country’s constitution had the provision of a free press, adding that Musharraf claimed himself to be a public figure and the law had different provisions for public figures and private persons.
Justice Arab then said the judges needed to review the report first.

Last week, the court had directed the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) to constitute the medical board to ascertain the condition of the former army chief and to submit a report by Jan 24.

Musharraf was rushed to the AFIC when he complained of heart problems while going to the special court on Jan 2.