Musharraf suffers heart attack, fails to appear before court

Former Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf was today admitted to an army hospital after suffering a "severe heart attack" on his way to a special court to face high treason charges, the third time he failed to attend the trial dramatically.

"He suffered a severe heart attack while he was on his way to the Court," Aasia Ishaque, spokesperson of Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) party said.

Musharraf was not feeling well last night and doctors had visited his Chak Shahzad farm house, given him medicines and advised bed rest, Ishaque said.

"While he (Musaharraf) was on his way to the Court today, he had chest pains and he was sweating. Tests done at the hospital showed he had suffered a heart attack," she told PTI.

Ishaque said the 70-year-old former president was admitted to the "Critical Care Unit" of the Armed Forces Institute for Cardiology in Rawalpindi (AFIC) and was conscious.
Musharraf's wife was beside him and his 95-year-old mother called from Dubai but was not able to talk to him as doctors have not allowed anyone to talk to him, she said.
"We are sorry to inform that APML Quaid Pervez Musharraf suffered a heart attack on his way to the Court," Ishaque tweeted.

The former military ruler is accused of suspending, subverting and abrogating the constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts. If convicted, Musharraf could face life imprisonment or death penalty.

Outside the court, Musharraf's lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri said, "He wanted to come to the court but his health deteriorated suddenly and hence was rushed to Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology. My God keep him well."

Asked if Musharraf was afraid of court, Kasuri said, "He is a commando and a commando fights. Musharraf's temperament is that he is not afraid."

Musharraf has twice failed to appear before the court after bombs were found on his route and this was the third time he was unable to attend the hearing in the high treason case.

Earlier, Dr Raza Bokhari, Musharraf's international spokesperson said in a statement, "We can confirm that former president Musharraf is admitted in a military hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He is conscious, oriented in time and space and is being examined by Pakistani military doctors.

"We pray to Allah for his speedy and full recovery".