Musharraf to face trial for high treason: Sharif

The Pakistan Government has decided to initiate a high-treason case against former military dictator Pervez Musharraf for subverting the country’s constitution twice. The trial would be held under article 6 of the Pakistan constitution. This was stated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the National Assembly
on Monday.

If convicted, Musharraf could face death penalty or life imprisonment. The announcement was widely acclaimed by opposition members in the House.

Attorney General Munir A Malik, meanwhile, submitted his stance on the issue before the Supreme Court. The AG wanted 30 more days to file a comprehensive statement on the issue, but the court ordered him to do so within three days.

Musharraf faces the charges of subverting the constitution twice in 1999 when he toppled the Nawaz Sharif’s democratically elected government and put him and his entire family in the jail on the charge of hijacking his plane. Sharifs were later exiled to Saudi Arabia for 10 years. He is also accused of imposing illegal emergency in the country on November 3, 2007, sacking Chief Justice Iftikar Mohammd Chaudry and nearly 60 top judges of the country and putting them under detention, often along with their families, for around five months.

Leaders from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other groups have extended support to the government decision.

Leader of Opposition Khurshid Shah welcomed the prime minister’s speech and said the pictures of all past dictators should be removed from parliament. Shah Mahmood Qureshi of the PTI said his party would support every move that the government made within the ambit of constitution.

Musharraf is currently under house arrest in his own farmhouse. Military observers say the army has no objection to his trial because he is an ordinary citizen now. However, there is some unease among the rank and file about the humiliation that a former army chief was being subjected to.

Sharif said he had forgiven Musharraf for what he did to him, but he must be held responsible for national crimes he committed.