Accessibility links

Breaking News

Pakistan Court Orders Freeze On Musharraf Assets In Treason Case


A Pakistani court ordered a freeze on the assets of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in a treason case against him.
A Pakistani court ordered a freeze on the assets of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in a treason case against him.

A special court trying former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf for treason ordered a freeze on his bank accounts and confiscation of his property, his attorneys said on July 19.

The head of a three-judge panel, Mazhar Alam Miankhel, issued the order after the former president, who left for Dubai in March for medical treatment, failed to appear in court.

Afterward, the court adjourned, saying it could not try Musharraf in his absence.

Musharraf faces multiple charges including treason and murder for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007.

Musharraf ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999. He resigned in 2008 to avoid possible impeachment and went into exile overseas.

He returned in 2013, after which he was barred from leaving the country while facing multiple lawsuits -- a travel ban that was lifted so he could seek medical care.

In January, Musharraf was acquitted over the 2006 killing of a Baloch rebel leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti.

But four cases against him remain -- one accusing him of treason for imposing emergency rule, as well as suits alleging the unlawful dismissal of judges, the assassination of Bhutto, and a deadly raid on Islamabad's radical Red Mosque.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG