ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday exempted retired general Pervez Musharraf from personally appearing in a case related to the detention of over 60 judges of the superior judiciary after imposing emergency on November 3, 2007.

ATC Judge Atiqur Rehman exempted Gen Musharraf on medical grounds after his counsel filed an application.

According to the application, the former president is being treated in Karachi and was unable to attend the proceedings in the ATC.

Musharraf’s two guarantors – retired Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi and Mushtaq Ahmed – however were present in court on Friday and informed the judge about the reasons for Gen Musharraf’s absence.

They assured the judge that Musharraf would be present at the next hearing.

Public prosecutor Amir Nadeem Tabish, on the other hand, opposed the exemption granted to the accused.

He said that the exemption application did not include any documentary proof of the former president’s ailment.

He also requested the court to resume proceedings against the military ruler in the case.

The court put off further proceedings until May 9.