Pervez Musharraf, Former Pakistan President, Admitted To Hospital In Dubai

Pakistan’s former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has been admitted to a hospital owing to serious health issues on Monday. Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, has been declared a fugitive in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case and the Red Mosque cleric killing case. Currently, he is living in self-imposed exile in Dubai.

The former Army chief left for Dubai in 2016 for medical treatment and has not returned since, citing security and health reasons.

According to medical reports, the former president is suffering from heart problem and having blood pressure issue, Pakistan Today reported.

Last week, a Pakistani special court allowed Musharraf until December 5 to record his statement in the high treason case against him, but made it clear that it will only accept the Supreme Court's directives and was not bound by the Islamabad High Court's order.

The proceedings were then adjourned until December 5.

The special court had on November 19 concluded the trial proceedings in the high treason case against Musharraf for declaring a state of emergency on November 3, 2007, and had ruled that a verdict would be announced on November 28 on the basis of the available record.

The IHC on Wednesday accepted the interior ministry's petition and barred the special court from announcing the verdict. A similar petition filed by Musharraf's lawyer was disposed of with the court issuing directions on it.

According to the short order, the special court is also "expected to take into consideration" the grounds raised in an application filed by Musharraf seeking his acquittal in the high treason case.

The IHC has also allowed Musharraf's counsel Barrister Salman Safdar to assist the counsel appointed for the former military ruler during the hearing, if he so wishes.