Pakistan, Islamabad: Today, Pakistan court issues a non-bailable warrant against former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf in connection with the murder case of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who was killed in a military crackdown in 2007. A local court in Islamabad issued the order and directed the authorities to produce Mr Musharraf before it on March 16.

The court also rejected Mr Musharraf’s plea seeking permanent exemption from appearing in the case and issued the warrants. His counsel said they would challenge the order, Geo News reported. The 72-year-old former president has never appeared before the court during the previous 55 hearings. This is the fourth non-bailable arrest warrant against Mr Musharraf in the case.

The cleric’s family filed a case in 2013 against Mr Musharraf over his alleged involvement in the killing of Rashid during a 2007 operation when military commandos stormed the mosque in the heart of Islamabad on Mr Musharraf’s orders. The three-day siege in July 2007 at the Lal Masjid claimed scores of lives, including of students and security personnel.  A Pakistani court has also banned his foreign travels.