Musharraf court notice unheeded

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A court notice issued last week calling on former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to explain why he imposed emergency rule has gone unheeded.

Neither the former president nor his lawyers were in the Supreme Court on Wednesday to explain the 2007 decision.

"Is somebody appearing on behalf of General Musharraf?" Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry asked.

But his query was met with a resounding silence. Lawyers for Mr Musharraf say they have yet to receive any notice.

Possible treason charge

A 14-member bench, headed by Mr Chaudhry, issued a notice to Mr Musharraf to appear in person or through counsel on 29 July.

Malik Qayyum, who was attorney general under Mr Musharraf, was present in court but did not rise to represent him. Mr Musharraf is believed to be in Britain.

He seized power in a 1999 and sacked Mr Chaudhry and dozens of other senior judges in 2007. At that time there was speculation that the chief justice would disqualify him from contesting a presidential election while in military uniform.

"We haven't received any notice so far and once we get it then we will decide whether to appear before the court or not," Saif Ali Khan, a member of Mr Musharraf's legal team, told Reuters news agency.

Correspondents say that while attendance at the Supreme Court is not mandatory, the court has warned Mr Musharraf that he would lose his chance to defend his decision to suspend the constitution.

At that time President Musharraf had become a valued US ally in the fight against al-Qaeda and was making peace with nuclear-armed rival India.

He argued that his actions were taken for Pakistan's sake due in part to the threat from Islamic militants.

President Musharraf resigned last August. Correspondents say that the court case could culminate in the government coming under more pressure to start legal action against him for alleged high treason.