Pakistani court issues warrant for ex-ruler, rejects treatment plea

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Pakistani court has issued an arrest warrant for ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf, rejecting his plea to go abroad for medical treatment, according to BBC News.

Musharraf has been in hospital ever since suffering chest pains on the way to his treason trial on Jan 2. Prosecutors argued his medical condition was not serious enough for him to avoid appearing before judges

Musharraf says all the accusations against him are politically motivated.

The warrant issued is "bailable", which means he could avoid going into custody if he files a bail application on time.

Musharraf is the first former military ruler to face trial for treason in Pakistan, which has a history of army rule. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to death or life in prison.

Musharraf, who governed Pakistan from 1999 until 2008, also faces separate charges of murder and restricting the judiciary. The treason charges relate to his decision in 2007 to suspend the constitution and impose emergency rule.

He has been at the military-run Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) in Rawalpindi since he was admitted on his way to a treason hearing.

Security concerns prevented him attending earlier hearings.

A medical report issued by AFIC physicians recently said he needed an angiography.