Pakistan court orders government to arrest Musharraf, seize his properties

In a treason case against former president general (retired) Pervez Musharraf, a special court on Thursday ordered his arrest and the confiscation of his properties.

Hearing of the treason case resumed today after nine months.

According to Geo TV, Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi is heading the bench which includes Lahore High Court Chief Justice Yawar Ali and Balochistan High Court Justice Tahira Safdar.

The bench, formed in 2013, is hearing the case of imposition of extra-constitutional emergency by Musharraf in November 2007.

As the hearing went under way, the Interior Ministry submitted in court a report on Musharraf's properties, stating that four of the seven properties are owned by the former president and army chief.

Ten years ago, Musharraf imposed an emergency. Prosecutor Akram Sheikh, presenting arguments, pressed the court to order Musharraf's arrest and production in court.

The court inquired from the Federal Investigation Agency officials what the procedure is to bring back an absconder from abroad. The officials replied that the Interior Ministry sends them a request in this regard after which action is taken.

Chief Justice Afridi remarked that the court is ordering the arrest and seizure of Musharraf's properties. Musharraf's counsel, Akhtar Shah, pleaded the court not to order confiscation of Musharraf's properties until March 21, but Justice Afridi remarked that this court procedure and cannot be curtailed.

The hearing was then adjourned until March 21.

The former army chief was indicted in the case in March 2014 after he appeared before the court and rejected all charges.

On March 18, 2016, the former president left Pakistan for Dubai for medical treatment after his name was removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) on the orders of the Supreme Court.

A few months later, the special court had declared him a proclaimed offender and ordered the confiscation of his property owing to his no-show.