Islamabad, Aug. 10: A Pakistani court on Tuesday declared former military ruler Pervez Musharraf as a “fugitive”.
A division bench of the Sindh high court (SHC) here headed by Chief Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani issued the order against Mr Musharraf for not appearing before it in connection with a petition filed by Maulvi Iqbal Haider of the Awami Himayat Tehrik.
It said Mr Musharraf is a fugitive since he was not appearing in courts to face cases against him.
The SHC issued a notice against the former military ruler during the hearing of the petition filed by Maulvi Iqbal Haider. The petitioner sought action against Mr Musharraf and his aides, including advocate Sharifuddin Pirzada and former Attorney-General Malik Abdul Qayyum, for “disfiguring” the constitution and committing high treason.
Mr Musharraf is using various channels to escape a possible trial in Pakistan for committing “high treason” while suspending the constitution twice during his rule in 1999 and 2008, Mr Haider alleged.
Opposition Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) wants Mr Musharraf’s trial but the ruling Pakistan People’s party (PPP) is reluctant to proceed. Mr Musharraf is also believed to be seeking help of King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to escape trial.
The former military ruler has formed a new political party, All Pakistan Muslim League, and has pledged to return home soon to start a fresh political career.
Several cases are pending against Mr Musharraf in courts across Pakistan, and the UN enquiry commission’s report also held his regime responsible for the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, in December 2007.
Mr Musharraf left Pakistan country in April 2009, eight months after he was forced to resign.