News / Pakistan

Pakistan court orders seizure of Musharraf's assets

Tuesday, 19 July 2016 12:28 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 19 July 2016 12:29 PM ]

Former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf (AFP)

A special court hearing treason charges against Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has ordered the seizure of his assets.

On Tuesday, a three-member bench of the special court passed orders to freeze Musharraf’s bank accounts and confiscate his property after he failed to appear for a hearing in the capital, Islamabad.

Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, who is presiding over the special court, adjourned Tuesday's proceedings until Musharraf is arrested or surrenders.

"According to law, the accused cannot (go on trial) in absentia," Pakistan’s English daily Dawn newspaper quoted Miankhel as saying.

Musharraf’s counsel argued that the former president was in ill health and could not appear before the court in person.

The former military chief left Pakistan for Dubai on March 18 to seek medical treatment soon after the country's top court lifted a ban on his travel.

Musharraf had returned to Pakistan in March 2013, after nearly four years of self-imposed exile in London and Dubai.

In this photograph taken on April 20, 2013, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf (C) is escorted by soldiers as he salutes on his arrival at an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad. (AFP photo)

Since returning, he has faced legal proceedings over alleged treason for declaring emergency rule in 2007 and charges linked to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s former prime minister.

Musharraf is also charged with unlawfully dismissing the country’s judges during his tenure.

Observers say the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whom Musharraf ousted in a coup in 1999, lacks the will to push for Musharraf’s prosecution.

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