The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Wednesday warned the counsel of former president Pervez Musharraf that a red warrant would be issued if his client fails to appear in court.

A divisional bench of the BHC, comprising Justice Jamal Mandokhail and Justice Zaheer-uddin-Kakar, was hearing an application filed by Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti, son of the late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, challenging the acquittal of the former head of state in the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

The BHC asked Musharraf's counsel to provide an exact date on which he would appear in court.

The former president's counsel, Akhtar Shah, pleaded that his client would appear before the honorable court once guaranteed security and after his medical check-up was complete.

Shah said that the former president was returning to the country on March 23, 2017, and he would subsequently attend court hearings. "We will give 2 months' time, but ensure the presence of your client," Justice Jamal Mandokhail remarked.

Earlier this year, an anti-terrorism court had acquitted the former president in the murder of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. Bugti's son, Nawabzada Jamil had challenged the acquittal.

Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed in an operation in Balochistan's Kohlu district on August 26, 2006. Bugti's son had nominated Musharraf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, former governor Balochistan Owais Ahmed Ghani, and senior officials in the murder of his father.