Musharraf appears in court, his custody extended
Iran Press TV
Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:28AM GMT
Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has appeared before an anti-terrorism court for a hearing in the capital, Islamabad, with his term of custody being extended by 14 days.
Pakistani television on Saturday showed pictures of Musharraf amid heavy security measures as he was entering the court.
Hundreds of lawyers opposing him scuffled with security personnel and shouted slogans against the former ruler.
On Thursday, Islamabad's High Court ordered the former Pakistani president to be arrested for his controversial decision to dismiss judges during the emergency rule in 2007.
Police arrested Musharraf on Friday and took him into custody at a guest house in police headquarters in the city.
'The court has sent General Musharraf on judicial remand for two weeks,' Muhammad Amjad, a spokesman for Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League party, told reporters.
'Our lawyers denied the allegations that General Musharraf sacked judges and kept them and their families under house arrest for six months. It is absolutely untrue,' Amjad said.
'We had requested the court to send General Musharraf on judicial remand, so that we can go to higher courts for relief,' he added.
Pakistan's former army chief-turned-president faces a string of charges including involvement in the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the killing of a Baluch leader.
Human Rights Watch has called on the Pakistani government to hold Musharraf accountable for widespread and serious human rights abuses committed when he was president.
Musharraf returned to Pakistan in March after nearly four years of self-exile in London and Dubai, despite threats by pro-Taliban militants to kill him upon his arrival.
MSH/HJL
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