ISLAMABAD: During Friday’s hearing of the treason case against former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, the special court in the federal capital ruled that the former president’s medical report would be subjected to cross examination on Jan 29 after which the court would announce its decision, DawnNews reported.

The special court comprises of three high court judges and is headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court.

During today’s hearing, registrar Abdul Ghani Soomro handed Musharraf's medical report to the judges, following which special court judges undertook a review.

Musharraf’s counsel Anwar Mansoor said the assessment of Musharraf’s heath should be kept private.

Mansoor complained that a private television channel had published one of Musharraf's medical reports on its website and requested the court to issue an order for its removal.

Following which, chief prosecutor Akram Shaikh said the country's constitution had the provision of a free press, adding that Musharraf claimed himself to be a public figure and the law had different provisions for public figures and private persons.

Meanwhile, Shaikh voiced objections over the medical report's findings and said it did not contain anything.

He demanded that a medical board be formed, comprising cardiologists of Aga Khan Hospital, PIMS Hospital and Shifa International Hospital, to review Musharraf’s report.

He said the former president did not have faith in army doctors which showed that he did not trust his own institution.

Shaikh said that such a situation meant that all heart patients should be referred abroad for medical treatment.

Justice Faisal remarked that a scene should not be created over the matter.

The court adjourned the matter to Jan 29 and ruled that arguments would be presented over the report in its next hearing, following which a decision would also be announced.

Meanwhile, sources said the medical report of the former president revealed that Musharraf was unwilling to get angiography from Pakistan and wished to go abroad for his treatment.

Last week, the court had directed the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) to constitute the medical board to ascertain the condition of the former army chief and to submit a report by Jan 24.

Musharraf was rushed to the AFIC when he complained of heart problems while going to the special court on Jan 2.