ISLAMABAD: A special court on Monday has finally indicted former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in a high treason case .
A three-member bench, led by Justice Faisal Arab, was hearing the case today.
However, Musharraf has not accepted any charges indicted upon him by the special court.
Musharraf, who has been absent from most of the tribunal’s hearings owing to security threats and ill health, then turned to address the court.
“I honour this court and prosecution, I strongly believe in law I don’t have ego problems, and I have appeared in court 16 times in this year in Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” the 70-year-old, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, said.
“I am being called a traitor, I have been chief of army staff for nine years and I have served this army for 45 years. I have fought two wars and it is ‘treason’?”
Musharraf declared a state of emergency in November 2007 amid mounting legal challenges to his rule.
Musharraf has been accused of treason under Article 6 for tempering the Constitution, imposing emergency in November 2007 in Pakistan and restraining judges of the higher courts.
Barrister Farogh Naseem has appealed Special Court to let Musharraf go to US for treatment and he also asked for a permission for Musharraf to visit her ailing Mother in Sharjah.
Out of 35 hearings of this case, Musharraf has just attended one.
Due to current situation, on the request of lawyers of Musharraf, Barrister Farogh Naseem, a senator and legal advisor to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has joined the Musharraf legal team.
Security measures at the Special Court were beefed up in anticipation of Musharraf’s appearance in court today, in compliance with an order issued on March 14, demanding his presence – enforced or voluntary – in the dock.
On Sunday, Pervez Musharraf was shifted to Intensive Care Centre (ICU) due to sudden increase in his blood pressure and speculations were that he will not appear before the special court today.
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