Musharraf’s treason case hearing resumes

ISLAMABAD: The special court constituted to try former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday resumed his trial for high treason after his formal indictment last month.

Justice Faisal Arab, who heads the three-judge court, is hearing the case pertaining to high treason charges against the former army strongman, Dawn online reported.

Musharraf was indicted in the previous hearing March 31 where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The court earlier granted Musharraf exemption from appearing in the hearings for health reasons, saying that he could be ordered to appear whenever required.

Musharraf has been charged with high treason for suspending the constitution when he declared Emergency rule in 2007.

He assumed power in Pakistan in a bloodless coup when he dismissed the government of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999.

Musharraf resigned in 2008 as president and went into exile, but returned to Pakistan in March last year to run in the parliamentary elections. However, a court disqualified him from contesting in the general elections held in May 2013.