Musharraf has time until 2pm on Thursday to appear in court: SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Wednesday gave the deadline to former president General (retd) Prevez Musharraf to return to Pakistan and appear before the court by tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar, was hearing the appeal of the former military ruler against his 2013 disqualification verdict by the Peshawar High Court.

The bench warned that if the former president does not show up in court by 2:00 pm tomorrow, then a decision would be taken in his absence accordance to the law.

The court further cautioned that the verification of his nomination papers for upcoming polls will also be halted as a repercussion of failing to appear before the court tomorrow.

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Chief Justice remarked that if Musharraf is a commando then he must return instead of merely parroting like politicians that he is coming back. “SC is not bound to release a written guarantee to him according to the conditions set forth by him; we have already given assurance that he will not be arrested upon his return then what is he afraid of?” CJP crossly said.

The top judge clarified that the government was behind the move of allowing Musharraf to go abroad. “It was government not the judiciary who removed former military general’s name from the exit control list (ECL),” he reiterated.

The apex court observed that Musharraf should come back and face the charges against him after that the court will review whether to put his name on the ECL.

The counsel of Pervez Musharraf informed the court that his client is ready to face treason case but he should be provided a guarantee of protection.

He has Parkinson’s disease, so a medical board will need to be set up, Musharraf’s lawyer said, to which the chief justice stated that the court would form a medical board if Musharraf returns in an air ambulance.

“Sindh High court rejected the nomination form of my client [Musharraf] for the 2013 election in his absence, therefore, those nomination papers should be restored,” Musharraf’s counsel prayed.

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In previous hearing of the case, the top court ordered former dictator to return to Pakistan on June 13 and appear before Lahore registry of Supreme Court while ensuring that he will not be arrested upon his return.

The apex court also allowed Musharraf to file his nomination papers for the 2018 elections, but declared that the permission is conditional with the final verdict of his appeal in disqualification case.