Islamabad: A special court hearing a treason case against former military ruler General (retired) Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday declared him a proclaimed offender or a fugitive for failing to appear before it.
Musharraf left Pakistan on March 18 after the interior ministry removed his name from its Exit Control List (ECL), which bars people specified on it from leaving the country.
The ministry acted after the Supreme Court rejected a government petition challenging a Sindh High Court order for removal of Musharraf’s name from the ECL and allowed him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Musharraf, now reportedly in London, was indicted in 2014 by the three-judge special court on charges of treason — for suspending the constitution and imposing emergency on November 3, 2007 — in his dual capacity as the then army chief.
At a hearing of the case here on Wednesday, the special court directed the interior ministry and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to advertise the court’s decision, declaring the former president a proclaimed offender.
FIA officials informed the special court, headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, that notices were served at Musharraf’s residence in Islamabad, as well as in Karachi.
Directing the prosecution to submit details of Musharraf’s property, the court adjourned the case till July 12.
Under the law a proclaimed offender has to be arrested and brought before the court if he does not appear before it within a specified period.
The opposition parties have frequently criticized the government for letting the former president leave the country.
Musharraf had reportedly stated after his departure that he would return and face the cases against him.
The former president stepped down in 2008 under pressure — after opponents routed his supporters in the elections — and went into self-exile abroad.
He returned in 2013 to lead his fledgling political party into the general election but was barred from taking part in the polls and got embroiled in legal battles.
