ISLAMABAD: Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who is currently facing a treason trial, approached the Supreme Court on Thursday to ask for one-time permission to go abroad for treatment of a long-time spinal ailment.

Along with a hurriedly-moved application through his counsel Chaudhry Faisal Hussain, Mr Musharraf has submitted a number of medical reports including X-rays, CT scans and an MRI conducted in April 2014, showing an acute problem in his spine.

This is the second such application moved by the retired general — one was moved in Dec 2014 — seeking permission from the apex court to travel abroad. The last time he wanted to see his ailing mother who was being treated at a hospital in the UAE. The earlier application, though taken up by the apex court, is still pending.

Through a fresh application, the former president has recalled that a private medical board, consisting of top neuro and orthopaedic surgeons from Karachi had, in their report of May 4, 2014, confirmed that he was suffering from a fracture of the vertebra.

The report suggested that the treatment for this ailment was not available in Pakistan and such surgeries had to be performed in Dubai, North America or Europe, the application pleaded.

Over the last two years, Mr Musharraf’s condition had been deteriorating, but things took a turn for the worse on Feb 11, when the former president had to be rushed to PNS Shifa in Karachi.

Subsequently, on Feb 18, he complained of a severe pain in his lower back and numbness in the left leg. Dr Imtiaz Hashmi, a leading consultant and orthopaedic spinal surgeon who has been treating Mr Musharraf since 2011, was rushed to his home.

However, his condition worsened after he ignored medical advice for bed-rest and had to be brought to PNS Shifa again on Feb 24, where he collapsed while on his way to the restroom.

The application maintained that the tests conducted on Feb 24 and 25 indicated that emergency surgery had to be performed to repair the vertebral fracture and avoid serious complications.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2016