Pervez Musharraf ordered to appear to answer treason charges

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A Pakistani court issued a warrant Friday ordering former President Pervez Musharraf to appear to answer treason charges, his spokesman said.

Reza Bokhari, Musharraf's representative, said the court also refused to allow Musharraf to leave the country for medical treatment, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Bokhari said Musharraf is not expected to be "medically fit" to appear next Friday, the date set by the court.

"The court has acted in an unprecedented manner, perhaps outside its authority, to ignore expert medical advice," Bokhari said. "They have shown inhumanity and ignored fundamental rights. It feels like they have pre-judged this case."

Musharraf, former head of the Pakistani armed forces, came to power in a 1999 coup and served as president from 2001 to 2008. He returned from exile last year, planning to participate in elections.

Allies of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted in the 1999 coup and returned to office last year, are pushing for Musharraf's prosecution. But Musharraf still has a lot of support, especially in the military.