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
Musharraf had raised objections over the authority of the special court, appointment of judges and prosecutor.
The decision was taken by Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan, who declared the requests inadmissible.
The special court comprises Sindh High Court’s Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Tahira Safdar of the Balochistan High Court and Justice Yawar Ali of the Lahore High Court.
Musharraf, when challenging the authority of the special court, stated that he was the army chief when he introduced the 2007 emergency and a military court alone could examine his actions.
The ex-military strongman is due to appear before the special court on December 24 to face treason charges 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.
Exit Control List
Earlier today, the Sindh High Court (SHC) disposed of a plea seeking removal of former dictator Pervez Musharraf's name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
The court said this matter does not fall under their authority and advised Musharraf's advocate to refer to the government to have the former president's name removed from the list.
The government had barred Musharraf from leaving Pakistan because he was at that time arrested for his involvement in three criminal cases, including the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The former dictator had later received bail in all the cases, however, his name was not removed from the ECL.
Musharraf’s counsel had moved the court, stating that his client wanted to be with his 95-year-old ailing mother in Dubai after his release on bail and that keeping his client’s name on the ECL was a violation of fundamental rights.
The attorney general today said that Musharraf's name was put on the list because of criminal cases against him and the petition should be disposed of.
The court had made its decision on December 20 but announced it today.
COMMENTS (33)
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@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks:
Do you know that they are NOT trying Musharraf for his actions when he overthrew elected government in 1999? They are trying him for his actions of 2007 where no elected government was overthrown. In 2007 the constitution was not abrogated, it was put on abeyance. The word ‘abeyance’ was added in constitution in 2012. So, you can see, it not the constitution they care about. It’s just vendetta. If they really care about constitution, they would try him for 1999 coup.
People doesn't know the meaning of dictator. They were like Saddam, Qazzafi, Saudi ruling family, etc. This man wasn't a dictator or he would have publicly hanged all his opponents, like Zia ul Haq did.
Not only he was a dictator, he was coward dictator and cowards have no place in history.
It is amazing that there are certain people in Pakistan who could not care less for their Constitution or laws of the land. Some how their ethnicity is more important to them than the well being of the country. If Musharraf would have done the things he did in the US, he would have been gone to the electric chair long time ago. Either you abide by your own constitution or be a lawless country and it seems Pakistan has been on the slippery slope of lawlessness for a while. Democratic nations respect and abide by their constitutions and in turn the world community respect them too. The fact is Musharraf did over threw an elected government by the barrel of the gun and there is this prescription for that act in the constitution, so stick with it now. By the way Pakistan should ask the Emirate government to send his mother to Pakistan in a special air craft equipped with medical facility like they did for Malala, and why is she there in the first place.
@ Khurrum
Do you understand constitution and what it means?
@liaqat ali:
If you want to see a dictator, see Egypt. Dictators do not resign.
@Muslim Leaguer:
Look at the other side of the picture. If we had let him rule, we would be progressing like malaysia, UAE or China and we were.
In your zeal to support PMLN, you are twisting facts. Rental power is ppp doing and has nothing to do with musharraf. LNG gave relief to common people. Steel mills, once a profitable entity and investor would buy it, has become a liability. Judges were not jailed, just confined to their houses. Musharraf may not be good for elite class, but was very good for common person.
Extremely biased and politically guided decision First the judge held the verdict apparently to talk to his boss/bosses and then without any reason which (he will think afterwards)rejected the petition
What if tomorrow, the more biased judges give him death penalty ? There will We will still be no answer from this judge. Is it justice??
Murder case,then murder case after that a murder case. And treason case,there are chances of capital punishment. His appeals including revision petition has been rejected. What the prosecution wante? What the concerned quarters wante.They wante his death called natural death,not the death which appeare after the execution of sentence.
What a disappointing situation Pakistan is facing when still some of the people are supporting a Dictator! Had it been in any other civilized country (Sri Lanka, Turkey, Libya or even Chile), the Dictator would have long been punished under high treason. No wonder Pakistan has been thrown into Lost Decade of energy crisis (LNG quota, Rental Power scam), Steel Mills at throwaway prices, subverting the Constitution, curbing the media and jailing more than 60 judges along with their families!
Whatever Musharraf did was in the best interest of Pakistan. So we fully support him and shun any propaganda against him.
@Khurram:
What about not holding local body elections. Is it not an abrogation of constitution?
Three governments of PPP and two governments of PMLN did not do it. This time it is only done because of independent election commission and the orders of SC.
No surprises here, everything goiing as planned. The script is already written. We all know what is going to happen.
One sided courts, Musharraf Lawyers bycotting in the end, quick verdict and presidential pardon. The only questions is, will Musharraf ask for pardon?
He deserves nothing but public hanging for abrogating the constitution.
Dear sir, When I couldn′t understand three major crimes of a former PM Musharraf in question, I studied two of three but the alleged complict over the assassination of B Buhtto. I heard about that he had lost its popularity because of hard line control and raids for counter-terrorism as well as tighten penalties ion economical dereliction. Above two question, according to me, his judge on intervention followed by air raid or seizure of Red Mosque were imminent undoubtedly. One thing I notice recently is a former PM Musharraf seemed to request a sort of consultation to UN over his situation accused by Supreme Court. After bailedout ? This article reports about the exclusion from ECL of Sindh. How will the request go or third trial again ? I also notice a former PM Musharraf keep the popularity but what happen on the situation of him under close monitor or something similar ?
@Zaka: Did he come to power by vote or by power of guns entrusted to him by nation to defend against enemy not to conquare his own country after failing in Kargil?
Oh Ok. Lets form, then, another Special Court as well. That, since done earlier, must trail Nawaz's hijacking, kidnapping and sabotaging 100s of people travelling on National airline, PIA including Pakistan Chief of Army Staff and Joint Chief of Army Staff of that time, in 1991.
This victimization is appalling!
Brave Leader..!
Govt form commission few weeks ago, send notice also few weeks ago, where musharraf council sleeping all this while, and on last day sending appeal which is unfair. Now they should face trial and fight instead finding excuses.
What a preposterous way to portray a devoted Pakistani citizen who dedicated 40 odd years to his country Pakistan. How low can you go ET ? Your chosen democrats are the real dictators. Have some shame and stop using such negative language against the soldier of this soil...
Press should be impartial.. ET why you are not? You can say that (Retd) General Pervez Musharraf instead of former dictator Pervez Musharraf. Long Life Musharraf Sir.
Best leader....
although he was military general he was not a dictator...the present democrat are more of dictator...the present PPP is bulldozing every law by using it majority.... Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens participate equally—either directly or through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws.
This case is a rubber everyone is elongating it as much as he can!
Musharraf is a great leader. Our prayers are with you Sir.
Musharaf is indeed great leader and great in personality. He appologies over misconduct of forces when throw stones on Geo. Indeed, he is great by all aspect, who accept his faults.
Sir Musharraf , the greatest leader pakistan ever had.
I guess the press always work for the Rulers, It was President Musharraf only who did not put shackles on you, but allowed freedom.
He was the one who gave you the freedom that helped you pull him down. What a shame for you all.
All make belief cases, and he is fighting them in the court of law Amazing patriot. Not like other leaders who keep all their wealth outside the country and ask others to bring their wealth to Pakistan.
Dictator ? Shame ET shame
Victimization and Vendetta is obvious
ET you continue to use word dictator for Musharraf, while he has been far more democratic than the leaders of the main political parties.
It is a strange decision. It was the Sind High Court that asked the then government to put Musharraf on ECL. The courts seem party to the personal vendetta program.