Court: Musharraf's bank accounts to be frozen, property confiscated

A special court hearing treason charges against retd. General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday ordered authorities to freeze the former president's back accounts and confiscate his property. A three-member bench of the special court headed by Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel passed the orders over the non-appearance of the accused before the court despite repeated notices.

The court also adjourned the hearing of the case until the former president is arrested or he surrenders.

Justice Miankhel remarked that the court cannot initiate further proceedings in the absence of the accused. "According to law, the accused cannot be trialed in absentia," he said.

Justice Miankhel said the attitude of the accused left no option for the court, and the special court ordered authorities to freeze Musharraf's bank accounts and confiscate his property.

"A compliance report of the orders must be submitted with the court," the court ordered.

Pervez Musharraf's counsel said that his client is ailing and currently abroad for treatment. The counsel's request to record his client's statement via Skype was turned down by the bench.

Musharraf left the country on March 18, soon after the Supreme Court upheld the Sindh High Court directions to remove his name from the exit control list (ECL).

Earlier, the court also seized the surety bonds submitted by Musharraf's guarantor, Rashid Qureshi, and ordered him to submit a sum of Rs2.5 million as security deposit to the Registrar of the special court.