In Pakistan, the hearing in a high treason case against Gen. (retd) Pervez Musharraf has been adjourned for a month by a special court after the Pakistan government failed to appoint a defence counsel to represent the former military dictator.

According to a media report, the three-judge bench on Tuesday adjourned the hearing for a month on the request of Acting Law and Justice Secretary who said his ministry has shortlisted the names of six lawyers but they were either unwilling to represent Musharraf or need time to study the case.

On June 12, the court had rejected Musharraf’s plea for the adjournment of the hearing on medical grounds and decided to conclude the trial even in his absence. The court also cancelled the 75-year-old former president’s right of defence due to his repeated non-appearance before the court.

The court had also barred Musharraf’s lawyer Salman Safdar from arguing on his behalf and directed the law ministry to appoint a defence lawyer for him.