Pakistan formally begins high treason trial of ex-President Musharraf

Pakistan on Sunday announced that it has formally started high treason proceedings against the former military President Pervez Musharraf and will approach the country's top court to form a judicial commission.

Musharraf, in a bloodless coup, sacked the elected government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999 and also suspended the constitution when he declared emergency in 2007.

Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Sunday Pervez Musharraf will be tried for high treason for subverting the Constitution twice.

"The government will approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday and will request the Chief Justice to constitute a three- member judicial commission for the high treason trial," Khan told a news conference in Islamabad.

He said that an inquiry report prepared by a team of the Federal Investigation Agency will be presented in the apex court.

The team had questioned Musharraf as to why he had dismissed the elected government and in what circumstances had he imposed emergency.

Legal experts are of the view that if Musharraf is convicted of high treason, he could face a possible death sentence or life imprisonment.

In June, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced high treason trial of Peevez Musharraf in his speech to the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, less than three weeks after returning as premier following his PML-N party's victory in the General Election.

Musharraf's actions came under the purview of "high treason", Sharif had told the Parliament.

The 69-year-old former army chief, currently lives in his farmhouse in Islamabad after he got bails in three high profile cases, including the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Sharif had earlier told the parliament his government firmly believes that the holding in abeyance of the Constitution on Nov. 3, 2007 during imposition of emergency rule constituted an act of high treason under the Constitution of Pakistan.

The Interior Minister told the news conference that the government was bound to proceed against the former President as " we are answerable to the nation, the judiciary and the history."

"We do not have any political or personal grudge with Musharraf, but it is our responsibility to put Musharraf on trial," Khan said.

Musharraf, who had resigned in 2008 and had gone into exile, returned to the country in March this year to take part in parliamentary elections. However, a court disqualified him from standing in the May elections.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that Musharraf cannot leave the country as his name is included in the list of those who are barred from going abroad.