Advertisement

Court resumes hearings in Musharraf case

A Pakistani Supreme Court Tuesday heard more treason allegations against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. 2006 file photo. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg)
A Pakistani Supreme Court Tuesday heard more treason allegations against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. 2006 file photo. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo

ISLAMBAD, Pakistan, April 9 (UPI) -- A Pakistani Supreme Court Tuesday heard more treason allegations against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

It was, however, not clear whether the retired general would personally appear in court as ordered.

Advertisement

Musharraf returned to Pakistan last month after four years of self-imposed exile in Dubai and London. He led Pakistan's military regime from 1999 until 2008, and had been approved to contest in the general elections set for May 11.

A high court bench of Justices Jawwad Khawaja and Khilji Arif Hussain has been holding hearings on five identical petitions against Musharraf, seeking his trial under the Constitution for his imposition of a state of emergency in 2007, Dawn newspaper reported.

The justices Monday ordered Musharraf to appear before them Tuesday to face charges of high treason. Musharraf also has been asked not to leave the country.

Dawn said Musharraf's Facebook account quoted him as saying he had "directed my panel of eminent lawyers to forcefully represent me in the Supreme Court of Pakistan tomorrow ... These cases do not frighten me and I will fight all the cases in the court of law!"

Advertisement

The petitioners also have sought trials of two retired lieutenant generals and other retired military officials on the treason allegation, claiming they had abetted Musharraf in subverting the Constitution, Dawn reported.

Separately, Musharraf is also accused of not providing adequate security for Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's former prime minister who was assassinated in December 2007. Benazir Bhutto is the wife of Asif Ali Zardari, who led the civilian coalition government which completed its five-year term in March.

Musharraf has denied the allegations against him, calling them baseless.

Latest Headlines