Musharraf is currently in Dubai for health reasons. In 2007 he imposed a state of emergency and suspended constitutional freedoms. In 1999 he obtained power by deposing Nawaz Sharif. On returning to government in 2013, his rival initiated proceedings against him.
Islamabad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A special court in Islamabad has sentenced Gen. Pervez Musharraf, former president of Pakistan to death. He is accused of "treason" for having imposed a state of emergency in 2007 and suspended constitutional freedoms. The sentence was issued yesterday by a majority of two judges out of three. At the moment Musharraf is in Dubai for health reasons and it is unlikely that he will return home to be convicted.
It is the first time that the death penalty for a military leader has been imposed in Pakistan. From his hospital bed in the Emirates, where he went about a month ago after a deterioration in health conditions, the former president said: "They are absolutely groundless accusations." Then he added: "I served my country for 10 years. I fought for my country. I was not heard in this case and I am the victim. "
The special court that found him guilty was presided over by Waqar Ahmad Seth, president of the High Court of Peshawar, Nazar Akbar, of the High Court of Sindh, and Shahid Karim, of the High Court of Lahore. Today, Musharraf's lawyers will file an appeal with the country's Supreme Court. In the event that the supreme judges confirm the verdict, the last hope for the condemned is a pardon from the president.
General Musharraf came to power in 1999 with a bloody coup d'état, deposing the then President Nawaz Sharif. Human rights defenders dispute the violent change of government and the arrests of at least 61 judges, including the president of the supreme court of the time, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
Later, he ruled from 2001 to 2008. In March 2007, to avoid an impeachment process, he imposed a state of emergency, and the following year he exiled himself to Dubai. In the 2013 elections, rival Nawax Sharif returned to power and one of his first acts was the indictment of the general. The trial began in March 2014. Before yesterday's ruling, the assembly of judges in charge of the case was changed six times.