Musharraf faces arrest warrant for cleric's killing

Islamabad, April 2: An Islamabad court on Thursday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Pakistan’s former president Pervez Musharraf over the murder of former Lal Masjid cleric Ghazi Abdul Rasheed. During the proceedings, counsel for the former president moved an application in the court requesting complete exemption for Musharraf from appearing in the court as he was not well, Dawn online reported. In 2013, police registered a case against Musharraf over the alleged murder of cleric Ghazi Abdul Rasheed and his wife during the Lal Masjid military operation.

Musharraf faces a string of court cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, including the death of Ghazi, one of more than 100 people killed after Pakistani troops stormed the Lal Masjid in Islamabad on July 10, 2007. The mosque was the scene of a week-long military siege against radicals who unleashed a wave of militant attacks across Pakistan.

An 11-member medical board has been constituted by the Sindh government to ascertain whether Musha­rraf was able to travel to appear in court.

Additiol Sessions Judge Wajid Ali Khan rejected the exemption plea and issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Musharraf over his failure to appear in the court despite repeated summons. The hearing of the case has been adjourned to April 27. (IANS)