Ailing Musharraf will not appear before court: lawyer

ISLAMABAD: Pervez Musharraf's lawyer Sharifuddin Pirzada informed the court hearing treason case against the former president on Monday that everyone is aware that Musharraf has been admitted at hospital and could not appear before the court today.

The special court, had asked the lawyers of the former president to confirm whether he will appear before the court or not today. 

Justice Faisal Arab, heading a three-member bench hearing treason charges against former military ruler.

During the court proceedings hot words exchanged between chief prosecutor of the case Akram Shaikh and the counsels of former president.  

Musharraf’s advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri had said yesterday that the ailing former ruler will not appear before the court and a request will be submitted to the court, seeking exemption for Musharraf from personally appearing in the court.

Musharraf was taken ill and rushed to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi on January 2 as he was being transported to the court for treason trial.