Musharraf could face open trial

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The lengthy charge-sheet against Pervez Musharraf may lead to an open trial of the embattled Pakistani president who faces the threat of impeachment.

The document prepared by the ruling coalition contains hundreds of pages of accusations of misconduct, financial irregularities, constitutional violations and "criminal acts," Dawn reported Monday.

The report said the ruling Pakistan People's Party expects Musharraf to resign before the impeachment motion goes to parliament. The PPP-led coalition, however, has not yet decided whether Musharraf would get a "safe passage" out of the country after resignation.

"We are in the government now and have access to many previously confidential documents. After going through these documents, we are surprised over the horrendous nature of the crimes committed by President Musharraf during his almost nine-year rule," PPP's Farhatullah Babar, a member of the committee drafting the charge-sheet, told Dawn.

Another committee member was quoted as saying among the accusations, the charge-sheet would also cover subversion attack on the judiciary, missing persons and misappropriation of funds received from the United States for the war against terror.