Musharraf in court on treason charges
Print Edition
Pakistan’s ex-ruler Pervez Musharraf became the first former army chief to appear in a national court yesterday in a treason case seen as a test of civilian rule over the country’s powerful army.
The 70-year-old arrived in a convoy vehicles, wearing a dark blazer and appearing relaxed during a hearing that lasted only a few minutes.
He sat in a witness box and stood briefly when addressed by the judge, but did not speak. Asked afterwards how he was feeling, he told reporters that he was “good.”
He faces treason charges, which can carry the death penalty, over his suspension of the constitution and imposition of a state of emergency in 2007 while president.
He was first ordered to appear before the tribunal on December 24, but has missed hearings due to bomb scares and health problems.
Defence lawyer Anwar Mansoor argued yesterday that judge Faisal Arab had not responded to a challenge to the court’s ability to try the former general, which Arab promised to decide on Friday.
Musharraf has challenged the civilian court’s right to try a former army chief, saying he is entitled to be dealt with by a military tribunal.
He has also accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whom he ousted in a 1999 coup, of waging a “vendetta” and has asked for permission to go abroad for medical treatment, which has been refused.
“We can call him again after deciding on the jurisdiction issue,” judge Arab said after declaring that he intended to formally indict Musharraf.
Sharif came to power after elections in May last year in the first transfer of power from one elected government to another after a full term.
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