Musharraf Ordered To Appear In Court

In this photograph taken on December 29, Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf (center) leaves after addressing foreign media representatives at his farmhouse in Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD -- A Pakistani court trying former president and army chief Pervez Musharraf has ordered him to appear at a court hearing next week.

The judges examined a medical report submitted by the hospital and said on January 9 that he must appear on January 16.

Last week, Musharraf was rushed to a military hospital after reportedly falling ill with heart problems on a day he was scheduled to appear in court.

The prosecution says his illness was simply a ploy to avoid the courtroom obligation.

Defense lawyers have been pushing for Musharraf to be exempt from court proceedings.

Musharraf is accused of treason for suspending the constitution and imposing emergency rule in November 2007.

Musharraf has dismissed the charge as politically motivated.

He also faces several other charges in separate cases relating to his 1999-2008 rule.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP