ISLAMABAD: A three-judge special court formed by Pakistan's Supreme Court for conducting high treason trial of former military ruler and dictator Pervez Musharraf is set to resume its hearing early next month. The 74 year old faces trial for subverting the Constitution on November 3, 2007. Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Yawar Ali, who heads the special court, will stay in Islamabad/ Rawalpindi from July 2 to 4 to hear the treason case.
A report said the case was planned to be restarted earlier but on member of the special court was abroad. Formed in November 2013 by the Supreme Court on request of the former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, had to be reconstituted as its former head and Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Yahya Afridi recused himself from hearing the case on March 29. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar proposed a fresh composition of the three-judge special court on April 7, nominating Ali as its head. Ali is set to retire on October 22 this year.
The SC had recently summoned Musharraf, who has been living in the UAE for two years, regarding his disqualification. He however, did not show up, prompting the apex court to bar him from contesting in the July 25 general elections. The former president was indicted in March 2014 on treason charges for imposing emergency in the country which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges. A conviction for high-profile treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.
