Beleaguered former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s efforts to wriggle out of a treason case suffered a setback on Monday when a Pakistani court rejected his objections against the special court set up to try him.
Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan of the Islamabad High Court dismissed three pleas filed by Musharraf’s lawyers against the constitution of the special court and the appointment of three judges and a State prosecutor to conduct his trial.
The special court has summoned the 70-year-old former Army chief to appear before it on Tuesday to face a charge of high treason for imposing emergency in 2007.
This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a former military dictator is facing trial for treason. If convicted, Musharraf could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Musharraf had said in a petition that he promulgated emergency as the Army chief and could only be tried by a military court. He also objected to prosecutor Akram Sheikh, who has links with right wing parties and is known for his intense hatred of the former military ruler. The judge rejected all these objections, clearing the way for Musharraf’s first appearance in the special court on Tuesday.