ISLAMABAD: An additional district and sessions judge on Thursday issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of former president retired General Pervez Musharraf for his absence from the proceedings of murder case of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi.

Judge Wajid Ali issued bailable arrest warrants for Mr Musharraf on March 10. The lawyer of the former president on March 27 gave an undertaking to the court for the appearance of Gen Musharraf on the next date of proceedings. The former president, however, did not appear in the court.

The judge issued non-bailable warrants for Mr Musharraf’s arrest and adjourned the hearing till April 27. After issuance of non-bailable warrants, the appearance of Mr Musharraf would be procured through police.

The Islamabad police registered an FIR against Mr Musharraf in September 2003for allegedly killing Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his mother on the directions of Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The FIR No 324/13 was registered on the complaint of Ghazi’s son Haroon Rashid against Mr Musharraf under sections 302 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to murder and abetment. It stated that Mr Musharraf had ordered a military operation in Lal Masjid in which Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his mother were killed along with scores of other people.

In October 2013, police in a challan submitted to the sessions court declared Mr Musharraf innocent and left him on the mercy of the court.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2015

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