Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Arrested

Islamabad: Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was arrested on Friday in a case relating to the imposition of emergency rule in 2007 and was presented before a magistrate, becoming the first former army chief to face such action.

Police officials arrested the 69-year-old former military strongman and took him to the court of judicial magistrate Muhammad Abbas Shah.

The magistrate remanded Musharraf in police custody and directed the police to produce him before anti-terrorism court in two days.

Earlier, the police officials informed the magistrate that they did not need physical custody of Musharraf and he could be placed in judicial custody.

However, lawyers for several persons who have filed petitions against Musharraf for imposing emergency in 2007 and detaining over 60 members of the superior judiciary contended that he should kept in police custody.

They also questioned why Musharraf had not been handcuffed by police after his arrest.

Musharraf's lawyer Qamar Afzal argued that his client should be kept in judicial custody as there were serious threats to his life. The magistrate reserved his verdict in the matter and Musharraf left the court complex after waiting for some time for a decision.

Footage on television showed Musharraf being led into the magistrate's small office by dozens of policemen and paramilitary personnel. Musharraf looked shaken and was wearing a waistcoat over a shalwar-kameez.

Sources told PTI that authorities had asked for Musharraf to be placed in judicial custody as this would allow the administration of Islamabad to declare his farmhouse at Chak Shahzad a 'sub-jail' and detain him there.