Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf was sentenced to death by a special court here on Tuesday in a high treason case. A three-member bench of the special court headed by Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth of the Peshawar High Court sentenced 76-year-old Musharraf to death in a long-running treason case against Pervez Musharraf.
Musharraf, who is currently in Dubai, is facing charges of treason for suspending the constitution and enforcing emergency rules in 2007, a punishable offense for which he was convicted in 2014.
The 76-year-old former Pakistan army chief went from Dubai for medical treatment and did not return, citing safety and health reasons.
Last week, a special court-ordered 76-year-old Pervez Musharraf to file a statement in the sedition case by December 5 after the Islamabad High Court (IHC), after hearing the petitions filed by Musharraf and the Pakistan government, the special court Prohibited from issuing judgment on 28 November.
Musharraf recorded a video message from his hospital bed in which he said he was ready to record his statement in the case.
Musharraf said, “A judicial commission can come here and hear me. It should look into my health status and decide. The commission will be hearing in court with my lawyer.”
Musharraf has ensured that he is unable to return to Pakistan due to his deteriorating health, several fatal illnesses and his aged mother.
court case
The high treason case of the former military dictator was pending since 2013 on November 3, 2007, filed during the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government to prevent a state of emergency.
Musharraf was charged with sedition in December 2013. Musharraf was convicted on 31 March 2014 and the prosecution presented full evidence before the special court in September the same year.
But due to litigation in appellate forums, the former military dictator went on trial and in March 2016 left Pakistan with superior courts as well as the Ministry of Interior for medical treatment.