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| Pakistan Court Issues Arrest Warrant Without Bail for Musharraf | Pakistan Court Issues Arrest Warrant Without Bail for Musharraf |
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| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A special court on Friday issued a warrant for the arrest of Pervez Musharraf, the former military ruler of Pakistan, after he failed to appear in court for the proceedings in a treason case against him, lawyers said. | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A special court on Friday issued a warrant for the arrest of Pervez Musharraf, the former military ruler of Pakistan, after he failed to appear in court for the proceedings in a treason case against him, lawyers said. |
| The court order said the warrant would take effect on March 31. It is a type known as “non-bailable,” which means Mr. Musharraf cannot apply for bail and will be arrested if he does not show up for a court hearing that day. | The court order said the warrant would take effect on March 31. It is a type known as “non-bailable,” which means Mr. Musharraf cannot apply for bail and will be arrested if he does not show up for a court hearing that day. |
| “We will review the court decision and then decide whether to challenge it or not,” Faisal Chaudhry, one of the lawyers for Mr. Musharraf, told reporters after the court hearing. | “We will review the court decision and then decide whether to challenge it or not,” Faisal Chaudhry, one of the lawyers for Mr. Musharraf, told reporters after the court hearing. |
| Mr. Musharraf is currently in a military hospital in the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi and has repeatedly avoided appearing before the special court, citing medical and security concerns. | Mr. Musharraf is currently in a military hospital in the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi and has repeatedly avoided appearing before the special court, citing medical and security concerns. |
| When Mr. Musharraf again declined to appear before the court on Friday, another of his lawyers, Anwar Mansoor Khan, told the three-member panel of judges that his client could not risk attending because of security threats on his life. | When Mr. Musharraf again declined to appear before the court on Friday, another of his lawyers, Anwar Mansoor Khan, told the three-member panel of judges that his client could not risk attending because of security threats on his life. |
| Pakistani intelligence agencies had earlier in the week warned that Mr. Musharraf could be targeted by Al Qaeda and Taliban militants during his commute from the military hospital to the capital. | Pakistani intelligence agencies had earlier in the week warned that Mr. Musharraf could be targeted by Al Qaeda and Taliban militants during his commute from the military hospital to the capital. |
| Mr. Musharraf is facing charges of subverting the constitution in 2007, when he imposed emergency rule and fired top members of the judiciary. | Mr. Musharraf is facing charges of subverting the constitution in 2007, when he imposed emergency rule and fired top members of the judiciary. |
| Mr. Musharraf, who led the country from 1999 until he was forced to resign in 2008, was considered an important ally of the United States in its efforts against Islamic extremism and militancy. During his time in power, he survived several assassination attempts, for which Al Qaeda and Taliban militants claimed responsibility. | |
| The special court panel, however, led by Justice Faisal Arab, has insisted that Mr. Musharraf must appear before the court to be indicted. It has directed Islamabad police officials to ensure stringent security measures. | The special court panel, however, led by Justice Faisal Arab, has insisted that Mr. Musharraf must appear before the court to be indicted. It has directed Islamabad police officials to ensure stringent security measures. |
| On Friday, 2,000 police officers were deployed on the route from the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi to the special court, which is temporarily set up in a government library complex, in Islamabad. | |
| Legal analysts said the decision Friday to issue an arrest warrant without the possibility of bail was a response by the special court to the noncompliance of Mr. Musharraf, who has appeared only once in the treason proceedings since they were initiated last December. | |
| The treason case is unprecedented in the country’s history, where the military has traditionally remained powerful and unaccountable. | The treason case is unprecedented in the country’s history, where the military has traditionally remained powerful and unaccountable. |
| But Mr. Musharraf’s fortunes have declined sharply since he returned to Pakistan in March 2013, to try to revive his political career. He has been ensnared in several court cases related to his time in power, the treason trial being the most serious. It carries a possible death penalty in case of a conviction. |