Pervez Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008. (File)
Pakistan's Supreme Court today extended the deadline for former president Pervez Musharraf to appear before it till tomorrow. The top court while hearing his appeal against the 2013 disqualification by the Peshawar High Court, however, stressed why was a "commando so afraid to return to his country."
The former president, who ruled the country between 1998 and 2008, is in UAE and has sought adequate security, for his return to the country. Last week, the top court allowed him to file nomination to fight the July 25 general election on condition that he would appear in the court today.
"If Pervez Musharraf is a commando, he should show us by returning, instead of continuously parroting that he will return like a politician," Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar, who headed the three-judge bench while hearing the case today said, Pakistan's daily the Dawn reported.
"Why does Musharraf need protection, what is he so afraid of?" he said. "How can a commando be so afraid? Musharraf would say that he has evaded death many times but he was never afraid," he said.
The Supreme Court bench warned that if the former president does not show up in court by 2 pm tomorrow, a decision would be taken in the case according to law.
Pervez Musharraf has been declared a fugitive in the Benazir Bhutto murder case and Red Mosque cleric killing case. Earlier this month, Pakistan's Interior Ministry had asked for the suspension of former President Pervez Musharraf's computerised national identity card (CNIC) and passport.
(With PTI inputs)