ISLAMABAD: A local court has issued a bailable arrest warrant against former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf regarding the murder case of Lal Masjid cleric Ghazi Abdul Rasheed.

Islamabad's Additional Sessions Judge Wajid Ali Khan presided over the hearing and rejected four requests issued by the former president's counsel and adjourned the hearing till April 2.

Musharraf's counsel had previously questioned the jurisdiction of the court as a case regarding Lal Masjid is already pending in Supreme Court. He had also requested exemption from appearing in court for this case.

Also read: Musharraf summoned over Lal Masjid cleric's murder

In 2013, police registered a case against Musharraf over the alleged murder of cleric Ghazi Abdul Rasheed and his wife during the Lal Masjid military operation.

Musharraf faces a string of court cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, including the death of Ghazi, one of more than 100 people killed after Pakistani troops stormed the Red Mosque in Islamabad on July 10, 2007.

The mosque was the scene of a week-long military siege against radicals that unleashed a wave of militant attacks across Pakistan.

Musharraf also faces treason charges over his imposition of emergency rule in 2007 – a historic first in a country ruled for half its existence by the military.

He further faces murder accusations over the 2006 death of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.