File Photo: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf.
An anti-terrorism court today rejected a plea by former Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf for permanent exemption from appearance in the murder case of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Khan Bugti.
The court in Quetta, capital of southwestern Balochistan province, is hearing a case against Musharraf and others for their alleged role in the killing of Bugti in a military operation in 2006 when Musharraf was president.
The court had ordered the 71-year-old Musharraf to appear today but he was absent. His lawyer said that he could not come due to security and medical reasons and sought exemption on permanent basis.
The court rejected the pleas and ordered formation of a medical board to determine the former president's health condition. The court also asked the government to provide him security.
The court only issued a one-day exemption and fixed the next hearing for April 8.
Musharraf has already been indicted but he never appeared before the court.
He faces a string of court cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, including treason charges over his imposition of emergency rule in 2007 and involvement in the killing of Bugti and the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007. He has also been charged in the judges' detention case.
The former army chief grabbed power in 1999 in a bloodless coup and ruled till 2008.
Facing impeachment following elections in 2008, Musharraf resigned as president and went into self-exile in Dubai. He returned to Pakistan after five years to contest the general elections in 2013 which he lost.