ISLAMABAD: A nine-member medical team constituted to conduct a medical checkup of Pervez Musharraf on April 1 said in its report that the former president is suffering from backache, neurological and cardiac problems.
The Sindh government had formed a medical team on the directives of an Anti Terrorist Court (ATC) to investigate the former President's continued absence from court in the murder case of elderly Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti on the pretext of medical problems.
The Director General Health Balochistan, Dr Farooq Azam presented an eight-page report on the health of Pervez Musharraf before the ATC judge, Aftab Ahmed Lone. The court accepted one day's exemption regarding the appearance of the former military ruler.
The former president is an accused in the murder of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti. Bugti was murdered in an operation in Balochistan's mountainous region of Taratani Kohlu on Aug 26, 2006. Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti, the son of Nawab Akbar Bugti had nominated Musharraf, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other high ups in the murder of his father.
Jamil Bugti's lawyer, Sohail Rajput, while talking to reporters outside ATC said, "We will challenge the medical report".
Former Interior Minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and former Home Minister Balochistan, Mir Shoaib Nowsherwani also appeared before the court. The former ministers are also accused in the murder of Bugti.
The ATC judge rejected the applications of both ministers for permanent exemptions from appearance in the case. "We will challenge the order of the ATC in high court," Sherpao told reporters outside the court. The case was adjourned till April 22.
Read more: Arrest warrants for Musharraf issued
Non-bailable arrest warrant for Musharraf suspended by IHC
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) today also suspended the non-bailable arrest warrant of Musharraf issued by an additional sessions judge in an ongoing case pertaining to the murder of former Lal Masjid cleric Ghazi Abdul Rasheed.
IHC Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi directed Pervez Musharraf to appear before the additional sessions judge on April 27, 2015.
Justice Qureshi also directed the counsel of the former president to submit an affidavit regarding the appearance of his client.
On April 3, Former president Pervez Musharraf challenged the non-bailable arrest warrants issued in his name by Additional District and Sessions Judge Wajid Ali Khan on April 2 over Musharraf’s failure to appear in court despite repeated summons.
On April 1, the former president was finally examined by the medical board, after two previous attempts by the board, for which he did not turn up before the board members at the Sindh Services’ Hospital (SSH), citing security reasons.
Musharraf's counsel has previously excused the former president's absence in court due to medical conditions that allegedly render him unfit to travel.
Aabpara Police had, in Sept 2013, registered an FIR against Gen (r) Musharraf for his alleged role in the murder of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi and a member of his family. The case was registered on the orders of the IHC, on a petition filed by Haroonur Rashid, the cleric’s son.
The former military ruler was booked under sections 302 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), relating to murder and abetment.
Read more: Court issues arrest warrant for Musharraf in Lal Masjid case
Musharraf faces a string of court cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, including the death of Ghazi, one of more than 100 people killed after Pakistani troops stormed Lal Masjid in Islamabad on July 10, 2007.
The mosque was the scene of a week-long military siege against radicals that unleashed a wave of militant attacks across Pakistan.
Musharraf also faces treason charges over his imposition of emergency rule in 2007 – a historic first in a country ruled for half its existence by the military.
He further faces murder accusations over the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
