Pervez Musharraf, who is due to appear before a special court on December 24, is the first former military dictator in Pakistan's history to face trial for treason. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The legal team also called on the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia to denounce Musharraf's trial to "repay their debt" for his support in the US-led "war on terror" in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
Musharraf overthrew the government of current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless military coup in 1999 and ruled until 2008. His lawyers claim Sharif is using the treason case to get revenge.
The 70-year-old ex-commando, who is due to appear before a special court on December 24, is the first former military dictator in Pakistan's history to face trial for treason.
Musharraf's barrister Steven Kay told a press conference in London the hearing would be a "stage-managed show trial" with the judges picked by political opponents who are now in power.
"What we have here is a case that has started with the hand-picking of judges by the politicians - or a politician, the prime minister - in defiance of any person's right to a trial that is fair," Kay told reporters.
The trial is an "egregious example of political interference," he said.
Musharraf returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile in March and was placed under house arrest.
The treason accusation relates to his decision in 2007 to impose emergency rule shortly before the Supreme Court was due to decide on the legality of his re-election as president a month earlier, while he was still army chief.
Kay said the judges selected for the trial would be unable to act impartially - particularly since one of them, Faisal Arab, was sacked by Musharraf's government.
"If you've been affected by what took place and then you judge it, there is a conflict of interest because you have an interest in getting retribution," Kay told reporters.
The legal team has written to UN human rights chief Navi Pillay and UN special rapporteurs calling for the international body to "urgently intervene and ensure that the former president is not subjected to politically motivated charges".
Barrister Toby Cadman called on Musharraf's allies in the "war on terror" to support him, insisting this did not amount to interference in Pakistani justice.
"What is important is to ensure that voices of concern are expressed in terms of the charges which the former president faces, and recognition of his contribution to the 'war on terror'," Cadman said.
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@Rex Minor: Mr. Minor at it again? Racist elements are looked down upon worldwide.
He is an iron man. Looters and thugs are scared of him. He is savior of my country, Pakistan.
Show Trial means " Show Pakstan" in the world. As you sow so shall you reap tomorrow, this should be rememberd by the todya's rulers.
He is a criminal@Waseem:
These hand picked judges need to be exposed, Show trial is correct word.
@Raj - USA: None of the so called guarantors you refer to have any jurisdiction in Pakistan! Musharaf is the only Indian which will go in history as the man who rose to become the military chief and later the President of Pakistan. He has caused sufferings and death of Pakistan citizens without expressing any remoarse or regrets and above all politicised and degraded the otherwise known as the highly professional army of Pakistan. Pakistan must prove to the world community that its judicial system is credible and will not be used for any vendetta. The people of Pakistan have the right to know why their country was dragged into USA adventure in the Hindukush, while none other from the neighbouring State including Iran, India and China did?
Rex Minor
Those who have kept betraying Pakistan through dirty politics are now doing trial of this great man. What a joke. This nation deserves leaders on them like Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Fazlur Rehman, etc.
@BBB:
What kind of logic is that? We are dying because we supported war on terror? We are dying because we could not take a stand against the brutalities of taliban. In fact we made billions, saved our lifes and our country by participating with rest of the world in war against terror. Tell us what is the attitude of our democratic goverments against US. Who would stand up to US, Zardari? Nawaz Shareef? You got to be kidding me.
When we put soldiers at afghan border, they smoked them out and what did we do? They came inside our country, killed Bin ladin. What did we do?
Musharraf saved us from that humiliation.
Yes. please tell us how fear makes good "friends"
Right decisions by Musharraf Lawyers to expose these kangroo courts at international level. Our current leaders have no shame and would do any thing to punish Musharraf. They only listen when their property in london will be at stake.
Musharraf seems to be living in a dream world. History teaches us that masses and people are important and individuals who carry the support of the masses are powerful.. Remember Shah of Iran - an ally of USA. When Iranians threw him out, he sought refuge in USA which was refused and rightly so. Individuals are important only when they have the support of the masses. Sadly, Musharraf, when in power, ignored the masses. Most importantly, Musharraf represented brute force and he should be punished for ignoring the law of the land.
PM was is a great Leader. We are with him.
There is no doubt this is a politically motivated revenge, not a fair trial. With charges only targeted to Musharraf which is a clear violation of the pakistani constitution, and handpicked judges with conflict of interest who is the government trying to fool? If these judges have any sense of fairness they would recuse themselves. The constitution also calls for the parliament to decided on the mode of trial. The parliament was not even consulted. Shameful conduct of Nawaz Sharif that will backfire on him once again.
@BBB we are paying the price of last sixty years not only what Gen Pervez did but actually we are paying the price of what General Ayub, General Yahya, General Zia,
Musharraf is a great leader, a visionary and nation loving person.
We respect there courts now they have to respect ours. No need to interfere in Pakistani affairs. Mushraf have to face for what he did according to article 6 of constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Musharraf has guarantees from US, UK, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. This was part of the deal for him to relinquish power in Pakistan. These countries have also assured him a minimum income also. This is the reason he gets lucrative speaking assignments and was also able to publish his memoir. However, he did not listen to the advices from these countries not to return back to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, we are still paying the price for his decisions and his loyalty to US
He's openly claiming to be responsible for dragging us into US led war, that alone is a confession !!!
We are paying the price with our lives for his support to the US led war, by dragging us into it. He is the president who's decision led to the death of 100000s of Pakistanis and he complains about trial !!!