Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf did not turn up for the treason trial against him on Thursday citing deteriorating health and a special court accepted his plea to postpone the hearing until after Ramazan, according to a media report.

The former president's lawyer Salman Safdar, in an application on behalf of Musharraf, stated that despite strong willingness and eagerness to return to Pakistan, the life-threatening ailments and medical complications have forced him not to appear before the special court.

The 75-year-old former president also apologised for not appearing before the court and requested it to postpone the hearing until the end of Ramazan, which falls on June 4.

"Musharraf should be given an opportunity to appear so as to fulfil the requisites of justice," Safdar said.

The counsel further clarified that Musharraf was unable to speak and that he could not respond to the questions in court without his client's assistance.

The three-member bench, headed by Justice Tahira Safdar, admitted Musharraf's plea and adjourned the hearing till June 12, the Dawn reported.

The court also issued a notice to the government over a plea for acquittal of Musharraf in the case.&nbsp;

A special court indicted Gen (Retd) Musharraf for high treason in March 2014. The previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had filed the treason case against Musharraf over the imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007.

Musharraf left for Dubai in 2016 to "seek medical treatment" and has not returned since.

Last month, Musharraf was admitted to a hospital in Dubai after suffering a reaction from a rare disease for which he is already under treatment.

Giving details of his ailments, the application stated that Musharraf is suffering from cardiac amyloidosis (congestive heart failure), chronic kidney disease (high creatinine in the renal system), excessive somnolence (hypersomnia), spinal injury and fracture.

It stressed that the former president came to Pakistan on March 24, 2013, on his own free will to face the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, judges' detention case and Akbar Bugti case and that the high treason case was initiated subsequent to his arrival in the country.

The application highlighted that Musharraf's absence from the trial court was not deliberate, willful or an excuse to avoid the ongoing criminal proceedings, the report said.

In the light of genuine life-threatening illness and permission by the government to travel abroad for the treatment, he should not be treated as a fugitive or proclaimed offender as was declared through the special court's interim order of June 19, 2016, it said.

According to the latest assessment of his health on April 29 at the American Hospital in Dubai, Musharraf's health has been termed unsafe in case he discontinued treatment and travelled, the application argued.

On April 1, the Supreme Court directed the special court to proceed with the trial on the next date of hearing (May 2) and in case the former president surrendered and appeared before it, he would be entitled to record his statement. If he failed to appear, the special court is empowered to proceed against him even in his absence.

Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf did not turn up for the treason trial against him on Thursday citing deteriorating health and a special court accepted his plea to postpone the hearing until after Ramazan, according to a media report.

Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf did not turn up for the treason trial against him on Thursday citing deteriorating health and a special court accepted his plea to postpone the hearing until after Ramazan, according to a media report. The former president's lawyer Salman Safdar, in an application on behalf of Musharraf, stated that despite strong willingness and eagerness to return to Pakistan, the life-threatening ailments and medical complications have forced him not to appear before the special court. The 75-year-old former president also apologised for not appearing before the court and requested it to postpone the hearing until the end of Ramazan, which falls on June 4. "Musharraf should be given an opportunity to appear so as to fulfil the requisites of justice," Safdar said. The counsel further clarified that Musharraf was unable to speak and that he could not respond to the questions in court without his client's assistance. The three-member bench, headed by Justice Tahira Safdar, admitted Musharraf's plea and adjourned the hearing till June 12, the Dawn reported. The court also issued a notice to the government over a plea for acquittal of Musharraf in the case. A special court indicted Gen (Retd) Musharraf for high treason in March 2014. The previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had filed the treason case against Musharraf over the imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007. Musharraf left for Dubai in 2016 to "seek medical treatment" and has not returned since. Last month, Musharraf was admitted to a hospital in Dubai after suffering a reaction from a rare disease for which he is already under treatment. Giving details of his ailments, the application stated that Musharraf is suffering from cardiac amyloidosis (congestive heart failure), chronic kidney disease (high creatinine in the renal system), excessive somnolence (hypersomnia), spinal injury and fracture. It stressed that the former president came to Pakistan on March 24, 2013, on his own free will to face the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, judges' detention case and Akbar Bugti case and that the high treason case was initiated subsequent to his arrival in the country. The application highlighted that Musharraf's absence from the trial court was not deliberate, willful or an excuse to avoid the ongoing criminal proceedings, the report said. In the light of genuine life-threatening illness and permission by the government to travel abroad for the treatment, he should not be treated as a fugitive or proclaimed offender as was declared through the special court's interim order of June 19, 2016, it said. According to the latest assessment of his health on April 29 at the American Hospital in Dubai, Musharraf's health has been termed unsafe in case he discontinued treatment and travelled, the application argued. On April 1, the Supreme Court directed the special court to proceed with the trial on the next date of hearing (May 2) and in case the former president surrendered and appeared before it, he would be entitled to record his statement. If he failed to appear, the special court is empowered to proceed against him even in his absence.

Pakistan court adjourns hearing in treason case against Musharraf till June 12

Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf was ordered to appear before a special court on May 2 by the Supreme Court in the high treason case and warned him that he would lose the right of defence if he failed to turn up.

A special court indicted General (retd) Musharraf for high treason in March 2014.

Musharraf, 75, left for Dubai in 2016 to "seek medical treatment" and has not returned since.

Last month, he was admitted to a hospital in Dubai after suffering a reaction from a rare disease for which he is already under treatment.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa was hearing a petition filed by a lawyer, who pointed out that the proceedings of the treason case, being heard by a special court since 2014, had come to a halt as the former president Musharraf had not returned to the country since 2016.

"We cannot let the suspect avail the benefit of not appearing before the court deliberately.

High-treason is not an ordinary crime," Chief Justice Khosa reminded the defence counsel.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had filed the treason case against Musharraf over the president's imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007.

In the previous hearing of the petition, the top court had said that it would intervene if the special court, in its next hearing, failed to make a decision on how to record the former president's statement.

The apex court today said that if Musharraf does not appear before the special court on May 2, he would lose his right to record a statement under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedures.

Musharraf's counsel told the court, "We contacted Musharraf's wife. The former president had set the date for his return as May 13 and he does not want to record his statement via Skype as there are too many documents."

"As Musharraf's counsel, I cannot assure that he will appear before the court on May 2. It is a matter of his health and he is currently undergoing chemotherapy," the former president's lawyer told the court, Geo News reported.

The court further said that if Musharraf does not appear before the special court on May 2, the court should give its decision based off of the prosecution's arguments.

A March 28 order of the special court, calling Musharraf to court on May 2, was also presented in the top court on Monday.

The special court had ordered Musharraf to appear before it on May 2.

At that hearing, defence lawyer Salman Safdar had said that the former president wished to appear in court on May 13.

The three-member bench headed by Justice Tahira Safdar had directed Musharraf to appear in court before Ramazan.

Justice Khosa today said that if a suspect is absent on purpose, any action that follows will not be looked at in the category of an absence.

"A fugitive has no rights," the top judge remarked.

Musharraf's lawyer Safdar, avoided giving a personal guarantee and said that the former president himself wanted to come back and record a statement.

He added that May 13 had been given as the date of Musharraf's return from abroad.

Justice Khosa said that a trial becomes unconstitutional in the absence of a suspect but if a suspect doesn't appear on purpose, he can not be allowed to take advantage of the situation.

The prosecutor told the court that the case was not taking place in the absence of the former president, adding that Musharraf was present in the court when he had been indicted.

The prosecutor said that after Musharraf was summoned, the former president had given assurances of appearing before the court.

The special court declared Musharraf a proclaimed offender and ordered the confiscation of his property owing to his no-show.

Later, on orders of the Supreme Court, Musharraf's passport and national identity card were also cancelled.

Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008.

A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf was ordered to appear before a special court on May 2 by the Supreme Court in the high treason case and warned him that he would lose the right of defence if he failed to turn up.

Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf was ordered to appear before a special court on May 2 by the Supreme Court in the high treason case and warned him that he would lose the right of defence if he failed to turn up. A special court indicted General (retd) Musharraf for high treason in March 2014. Musharraf, 75, left for Dubai in 2016 to "seek medical treatment" and has not returned since. Last month, he was admitted to a hospital in Dubai after suffering a reaction from a rare disease for which he is already under treatment. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa was hearing a petition filed by a lawyer, who pointed out that the proceedings of the treason case, being heard by a special court since 2014, had come to a halt as the former president Musharraf had not returned to the country since 2016. "We cannot let the suspect avail the benefit of not appearing before the court deliberately. High-treason is not an ordinary crime," Chief Justice Khosa reminded the defence counsel. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had filed the treason case against Musharraf over the president's imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007. In the previous hearing of the petition, the top court had said that it would intervene if the special court, in its next hearing, failed to make a decision on how to record the former president's statement. The apex court today said that if Musharraf does not appear before the special court on May 2, he would lose his right to record a statement under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedures. Musharraf's counsel told the court, "We contacted Musharraf's wife. The former president had set the date for his return as May 13 and he does not want to record his statement via Skype as there are too many documents." "As Musharraf's counsel, I cannot assure that he will appear before the court on May 2. It is a matter of his health and he is currently undergoing chemotherapy," the former president's lawyer told the court, Geo News reported. The court further said that if Musharraf does not appear before the special court on May 2, the court should give its decision based off of the prosecution's arguments. A March 28 order of the special court, calling Musharraf to court on May 2, was also presented in the top court on Monday. The special court had ordered Musharraf to appear before it on May 2. At that hearing, defence lawyer Salman Safdar had said that the former president wished to appear in court on May 13. The three-member bench headed by Justice Tahira Safdar had directed Musharraf to appear in court before Ramazan. Justice Khosa today said that if a suspect is absent on purpose, any action that follows will not be looked at in the category of an absence. "A fugitive has no rights," the top judge remarked. Musharraf's lawyer Safdar, avoided giving a personal guarantee and said that the former president himself wanted to come back and record a statement. He added that May 13 had been given as the date of Musharraf's return from abroad. Justice Khosa said that a trial becomes unconstitutional in the absence of a suspect but if a suspect doesn't appear on purpose, he can not be allowed to take advantage of the situation. The prosecutor told the court that the case was not taking place in the absence of the former president, adding that Musharraf was present in the court when he had been indicted. The prosecutor said that after Musharraf was summoned, the former president had given assurances of appearing before the court. The special court declared Musharraf a proclaimed offender and ordered the confiscation of his property owing to his no-show. Later, on orders of the Supreme Court, Musharraf's passport and national identity card were also cancelled. Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008. A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Musharraf to lose defence right in treason case if he fails to appear on May 2: Pak SC

A Lahore court on Monday heard the case against former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in connection to his interview to a Pakistani Daily. Sharif has now been asked to file his response by the October 22.&nbsp;

Cyril Almeida, a columnist of the newspaper, was also summoned to the court. Although the non-bailable arrest warrant against Almeida has been withdrawn, he will have to appear for the next hearing on October 22. Almeida has also been removed from the Exit Control List.&nbsp;

During the interview, Sharif had claimed that those involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks belonged to Pakistan. He had acknowledged that terror organisations are active in Pakistan.&nbsp;

In the interview, Nawaz Sharif had questioned the delay in the conclusion of the trial in the 26/11 case.&nbsp;

Petitioner Amina Malik had claimed that Sharif had committed treason by towing an anti-Pakistan line in his statement on 26/11. She claimed that Sharif's so-called anti-state statement could be used against Pakistan by other countries.

&nbsp;

A Lahore court on Monday heard the case against former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in connection to his interview to a Pakistani Daily. Sharif has now been asked to file his response by the October 22.

A Lahore court on Monday heard the case against former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in connection to his interview to a Pakistani Daily. Sharif has now been asked to file his response by the October 22. Cyril Almeida, a columnist of the newspaper, was also summoned to the court. Although the non-bailable arrest warrant against Almeida has been withdrawn, he will have to appear for the next hearing on October 22. Almeida has also been removed from the Exit Control List. During the interview, Sharif had claimed that those involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks belonged to Pakistan. He had acknowledged that terror organisations are active in Pakistan. In the interview, Nawaz Sharif had questioned the delay in the conclusion of the trial in the 26/11 case. Petitioner Amina Malik had claimed that Sharif had committed treason by towing an anti-Pakistan line in his statement on 26/11. She claimed that Sharif's so-called anti-state statement could be used against Pakistan by other countries.

Nawaz Sharif treason case: Pak court withdraws warrant against journalist Cyril Almeida

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