Special court releases 169 pages detailed judgement in high treason case against Musharraf

The petitioner said that high treason act did not apply on Pervez Musharraf and Article 6 has been converted into 18th constitutional amendment.

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court (SC) Karachi Registry that challenged the special court’s verdict of the death penalty against former military ruler General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf in high treason case.

The petitioner said that high treason act did not apply on Pervez Musharraf and Article 6 has been converted into 18th constitutional amendment. It further stated that the former president had imposed the state of emergency in 2007, whereas, the 18th amendment was made in 2010.

It added the law and constitution were not breached in the Musharraf’s era as he had given legal and constitutional status to his rulership through organising a referendum.

The Special Court on Thursday issued detailed judgement in high treason case against former president Pervez Musharraf.

The certified copy of the verdict comprises 169 pages, was handed over to the counsel of Pervez Musharraf and officials of the interior ministry.

Earlier, the registrar of the special court had said, the verdict would not be provided to the media, it would only be provided to the counsel of former president.

The Pakistan government has found fault with a special court’s death sentence for former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, apparently taking sides in a split between the military and the judiciary, and the general’s lawyers said he plans to appeal.

Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said the government’s legal team had found “gaps and weaknesses” in the ruling after lawyers briefed Prime Minister Imran Khan about the case late on Wednesday.

Musharraf, 76, who was tried and sentenced in absentia, said in Dubai where he is receiving medical treatment that the charges against him were politically motivated.

Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan has said Musharraf wasn’t given a fair trial, taking the army line in a standoff between the judiciary and the military.

Tensions arose after Supreme Court struck down a three-year extension in service given by the government to army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

On Tuesday, special court awarded death sentence to former president Pervez Musharraf in high treason case against him.

The special court, headed by Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth decided the high treason case with 2-1 split verdict against the former President and Military Chief.

The former military chief is currently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Charges Against Musharraf

The former president is accused of treason under Article 6 for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts.

The indictment comprises five charges cited imposition of Nov 3, 2007 emergency as one of the charges against Musharraf which led to the violation of Article 6 of the Constitution.

The indictment also included the deposition of superior court judges and the suspension of fundamental rights among the list of charges.

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