Ghazi murder case: arguments on plea against warrants for Musharraf may conclude this week

Islamabad High Court (IHC) is likely to conclude arguments this week in response to a petition filed by former president General Pervez Musharraf (Retd) against his arrest warrants issued with regard to murder case of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi. During the week commencing on July 22 a two-member division bench and two single-member benches will hear different petitions.
According to the cause list issued by the IHC, the petition of General Musharraf (Retd) has been fixed for July 23 to be heard by Justice Amir Farooq. IHC Justice Aamir Farooq had also sought from Musharraf's counsel to submit a fresh medical report before the trial court as the previous report was submitted in April.
Musharraf has challenged the non-bailable arrest warrants issued in his name by a district and sessions court in Islamabad. On June 19, D&SJ Kamran Bisharat Mufti issued warrants for repeated absence of Musharraf from the murder trial of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi. The session court had directed the police to produce former President Musharraf before the court on July 24. The petition stated that Musharraf was in Karachi where a medical board constituted on the directions of ATC Quetta examined him and advised him not to travel due to illness.
The medical report was presented before the special bench, which is conducting proceeding under Article 6 of the constitution, and the same was allowed, stated the petition. Even the Islamabad ATC exempted him on the basis of the same report, he added. The petition requested the court to set aside the non-bailable arrest warrants. Aabpara Police had registered an FIR against General Musharraf (Retd) for his alleged role in the murder of Ghazi Abdul Rasheed and his mother in 2013. During the week, beside Justice Amir Farooq, another single bench comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui and a division bench comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqu and Justice Amir Farooq would be formed as per cause list of IHC.