ISLAMABAD: A special court hearing treason charges against former president General Pervez Musharraf declared him an absconder in the ongoing treason case on Wednesday.

The three-member bench of the special court, comprised of Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Minakhel, Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar and Justice Mohammad Yawar Ali, declared Musharraf an absconder his failure to appear before the court despite multiple summons.

The court directed the prosecutor to publish advertisements in both Urdu and English newspapers declaring Musharraf an absconder, and place posters outside the court and Musharraf's residences. The prosecutor was also ordered to submit record of all property owned by the accused before the next hearing on July 12.

The court also ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce Musharraf before the court within 30 days

During the previous hearing, the court had issued non-bailable warrants Musharraf's arrest over his failure to appear before the court, despite repeated notices and the Director General FIA was ordered to execute the warrants.

In Wednesday's hearing, the court was told in a FIA report that Musharraf was served notices to appear at his residences in Islamabad and Karachi, but could not be produced before the court because he is abroad.

Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Minakhel, head of the bench, said that the defence has nothing to say anymore as the accused did not appear before the court despite repeated notices.

"Defence counsels should even be in the courtroom now," Justice Minakhel remarked.

Musharraf left the country on March 18, soon after the Supreme Court upheld the Sindh High Court directions to remove his name from the exit control list (ECL).

Earlier, the court also ceased the surety bonds submitted by Musharraf’s guarantor, Rashid Qureshi, and ordered him to submit a sum of Rs2.5 million as security deposit to the Registrar of the special court.

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...