Musharraf gets death for treason

Islamabad, December 17

Pakistan’s former dictator General Pervez Musharraf was today sentenced to death in absentia in the high treason case for subverting the Constitution in 2007, becoming the first military ruler to receive capital punishment in the country’s history.

A three-member Bench of the special court, headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth, pronounced the verdict in the landmark case launched in 2013 against the former Pakistan army chief by the government of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The court found the ailing 76-year-old ex-President, now living in Dubai on self-exile, guilty of high treason by abrogating the Constitution and imposing extra-constitutional emergency in Pakistan in November 2007 and handed him the death sentence.

He also imprisoned several judges and issued provisional constitutional orders to safeguard his dictatorship. He was convicted in 2014 but later went to Dubai in 2016, stalling the progress in the high-profile case.

Musharraf is the first military ruler convicted for subverting the Constitution, though he was not the first General to do so. Three Pakistan Army chiefs, including Gen Ayub Khan, Gen Yahya Khan and Gen Zia-ul-Haq, also abrogated the Constitution, but never faced any court. Musharraf’s sentencing is highly significant moment in Pakistan where the powerful military has ruled the country for nearly half of its 72-year history.

Justice Seth, in a short verdict, announced that the court found that Musharraf was guilty of violating Article 6 of the Constitution that says that suspending the Constitution was an act of treason. The tribunal issued 2-1 split verdict in the case which lingered on about six years. It said that the detailed judgment would be issued in two days. Musharraf can file appeal against the judgment within 30 days. But he would have to return to Pakistan for it unless allowed by the higher court. According to media reports, Musharraf, who is undergoing treatment in Dubai, expressed regret at the judgment and announced to give detailed response after consulting his lawyers.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information, Firdous Ashiq Awan, said that the government would respond to the judgment on return of Prime Minister Imran Khan from abroad (Switzerland). — PTI

Charges against him

• High treason by abrogating the Constitution in 2007
• Imposing extra-constitutional emergency, jailed judges
• Issuing provisional constitutional orders to safeguard his dictatorship

Only Gen to face death

• Gen Musharraf seized power by ousting then PM Nawaz Sharif in a 1999 bloodless coup
• The ex-army chief also served as Pakistan President from 2001 to 2008
• Gen Ayub Khan, Gen Yahya Khan and Gen Zia-ul-Haq also abrogated Constitution, but never faced any court