A special court on Friday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against embattled former Pakistani military dictator Pervez Musharraf in connection with the high treason case against him and ordered him to appear in person on March 31 or face arrest.
The conditional non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against the 70-year-old former President after he failed to turn up before the court for indictment.
"In view of the law Governing the matter, the presence of the accused is required for proceeding with the case... let a non-bailable warrant for production for the accused be issued for March 31, 2014 to be executed by the Inspector General of Police, Islamabad or any officer designated by him," said the order read out by Abdul Ghani Soomro, registrar of the court.
"It is further directed that the warrant would be executed only in the morning of March 31, 2014 if the accused refuses to appear before the court on his own volition," the order said.
The court also directed the authorities to ensure fool-proof security arrangements on March 31 so that Musharraf, the first military ruler in Pakistan's history to face a treason trial, could be brought to the court.
The defence said they will challenge the order once they get a copy of it.