Musharraf's treason trial adjourned till March 14

The special court bench hearing former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf's high treason case excused him from appearance in court Tuesday considering the perceived threat to his life but ordered him to appear before it March 14.

Ahmed Raza Kasuri, counsel for Musharraf, Tuesday argued before the three-member bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab that if his client came to court as per its directive and something happened to him, the court would be responsible, the Dawn online reported.

After reviewing the threat alert by the interior ministry, Justice Arab remarked that in light of the prevailing security threat to Musharraf's life, the bench could not order him to appear before the court Tuesday and adjourned the hearing till March 14.

The bench has also instructed the government to make adequate security arrangements for the former military ruler in light of the threats outlined by the interior ministry in its threat alert.

Musharraf faces charges of abrogating the constitution of Pakistan and detaining judges of the higher judiciary after imposing emergency Nov 3, 2007, while he was the president.