Treason case: Court orders confiscation of Musharraf's property

In fresh trouble for former Pakistan president General (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf, a special court hearing the treason charges against him on Tuesday ordered the authorities to freeze his bank accounts and confiscate his property.

A three-member bench of the special court headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel passed the order over the non-appearance of the accused before the court despite repeated summons, reports the Dawn.

The court also adjourned the hearing of the case until the former president is either arrested or surrenders himself.

Justice Miankhel remarked that the court cannot initiate further proceedings in the absence of the accused.

"According to law, the accused cannot be trialed in absentia," he said, adding that the attitude of the accused left no option for the court.

"A compliance report of the orders must be submitted with the court," the court ordered.

In his defence, Musharraf's counsel said that his client is ailing and currently abroad for treatment.

The counsel's request to record Musharraf's statement via Skype was turned down by the bench.

In an earlier hearing in May this year, the special court had declared Musharraf an absconder in the ongoing treason case.

Musharraf left the country on March 18, soon after the Supreme Court upheld the Sindh High Court's directions to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).