In an unprecedented verdict, a Pakistani special court comprising high court judges, awarded death sentence to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf over his imposition of emergency in the country on November 3, 2007.
Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth headed the bench which heard the high treason case against former army chief Musharraf, who has refused to return to the country and has been living in the United Arab Emirates for several years.
The November 3 emergency order, according to experts, amounted to imposition of Martial Law as it revoked democratic rights, stifled the media and hurt independence of judiciary, and it happened while an elected assembly and prime minister were functioning.
The retired general has been sentenced under Article 6 of the Constitution which says: “Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or hold in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or show force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.”
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf speaks during a press conference at the Pakistan Air Force base in Chaklala Pakistan Image via Wikimedia
This is the second verdict in a few weeks – following the Supreme Court’s giving Parliament the power over extension in service of any army chief – that represents the court’s open and free working on the high-profile issues impacting democracy.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Army has expressed its support for Musharraf with Director General of its media wing Inter Services Public Relations saying that legal process did not play out fairly and that right to self-defense was denied.
Statement on decision by Special court about General Pervez Musharraf, Retired. pic.twitter.com/C9UAMT1E4W
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) December 17, 2019
In their initial reactions, politicians hailed the sentencing of Musharraf, saying his actions harmed the country.
Musharraf came into power on October 12, 1999 by toppling former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, once again halting democratic progress in the country.
Pakistan now has three successive elections and transfers of powers to elected governments since 2008.
This story has bee updated at 10 am (EST) December 17, 2019 with addition of Pakistani military’s reaction to the verdict and details including background
