ISLAMABAD: Hearing the Ghazi Rasheed murder case against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, an additional district and sessions’ judge in Islamabad rejected the retired general's application seeking permanent exemption from appearance during proceedings, DawnNews reported.

Additional district and sessions Judge Wajid Ali was hearing the case against Musharraf.

During the hearing, Musharraf’s counsel presented his arguments saying that the former army chief faced death threats, adding that he was targeted in an attack two days earlier as a result of which he could not appear in court.

He said Musharraf sought exemption from appearing in court.

The court granted him exemption from appearance for today’s hearing and adjourned the case to three months.

Whereas, the former president's request seeking permanent exemption from attendance during the case's hearings was dismissed.

Ghazi Rasheed was killed during the Lal Masjid operation which was a 2007 government crackdown on the controversial pro-Taliban mosque in Islamabad. The operation had ended in a bloody eight-day siege killing at least 58 Pakistani troops and seminary students.

The operation, ordered by Musharraf, followed a week-long standoff between the mosque's supporters and security forces.