Musharraf treason case adjourned until Jan 1

E-Paper | October 02, 2026

Musharraf treason case adjourned until Jan 1

Dawn.com Published December 24, 2013

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ISLAMABAD: The special court formed to try former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf for treason under Article 6 of the Constitution on Tuesday adjourned its hearing until Jan 1 whereas the former military failed to appear in court after a bomb scare earlier during the day, DawnNews reported.

The start of former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf's trial for treason was delayed over security fears Tuesday after explosives were found near the road he was to take to court.

Lawyer Anwar Mansoor Khan told the special treason tribunal that the former general would not be able to attend, after police found five kilograms (11 pounds) of explosives and detonators.

Justice Faisal Arab, heading the three member court, said he understood the “gravity” of Musharraf's situation and that treason was a non-bailable offense.

He asked the former military strongman's lawyers to file an application to exempt their client from appearing in person.

Moreover, Musharraf's senior counsel Barrister Sharifuddin Pirzada raised objections to the formation and appointment of judges for the court hearing the case.

Justice Arab remarked that such objections should be submitted in writing.

The prosecuting lawyer requested the court to order Musharraf to appear in court adding that non-bailable warrants be issued upon failure to appear in court.

Advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri, another lawyer for Musharraf, emphasised before the court, the threats faced by his client citing two previous attacks and other intelligence reports of possible attacks on him.

Justice Yawar, at this point, granted exemption to the former president from appearing for today's hearing.

The court decided to adjourn the hearing until January 1.

The government had on Nov 17 announced its decision to formally prosecute former president General Pervez Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court had already given a ruling in the case in October 2012 and then in July this year disposed off all petitions against the ruling giving the government a green signal to continue proceedings.

In the ‘high treason’ case against the former president, the government has charged him with abrogating, subverting, suspending, holding in abeyance and attempting to conspire against the 1973 Constitution by declaring emergency and overthrowing the superior judiciary in November 2007.

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AAK

Dec 24, 2013 12:10pm

Why Musharraf will appear before a court which is not valid, where everybody knows it's personnel vanadate. Zardari and Gilani openly defying not appearing in Court ,underhand dealing with this fraud courts.,

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Imtiaz

Dec 24, 2013 12:21pm

Sad to see that an honest and patriot Pakistani is dragged into baseless cases by corrupt politician and judiciary to settle the old scores.

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deendayal lulla

Dec 24, 2013 01:43pm

Is this a competent court to put Musharraf on trial? Why he is being hounded ,by the government,taking help of the judiciary?

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Ali

Dec 24, 2013 02:34pm

General Retired Pervez Musharraf may not be the perfect person to lead a country out of long economic, security and several other crises. But he is the one of the two best people AVAILABLE to lead Pakistan. Imran Khan with his Political Party should interfere in this case formally, get this honest and patriotic Pakistani out of these political cases and create an alliance between APML and PTI to rid the country of corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and feudal lords, I am sure this will automatically bring prosperity and relaxation for the common people.

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Sultan

Dec 24, 2013 03:00pm

Musharraf did everything in the better interest of the country including the removal of the political CJ. Pakistan is much more important than constitution. Musharraf will be the winner even if he is convicted by the fake courts and NS government.

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Shaz

Dec 24, 2013 03:40pm

@Imtiaz: Now that's is the reality and also summary of the whole story. Our soft spoken pm who talks as if is a champion of human rights and respect is now taking revenue in full *as expected*

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Farhan

Dec 24, 2013 04:00pm

This is how Pakistan honors to their True Leader. His only mistake which he did that he loves Pakistan from Heart and did everything for its prosperity and satiability. He governed for 8 years but no single case of corruption whereas those who have unlimited cases of corruption still ruling Pakistan with no shame. Great Leader Pervez Mushraf

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Ismail

Dec 24, 2013 05:01pm

I feel ashamed that such a honest person in Pakistan is being tried. Why no one wants to try son of Chief Justice who in the shadow of controversial chief justice who could not give justice to loot of is own son? why did he no take notice of bad deeds of his son who accumulated billions. If you see the start of the matter, reference was filed for misdeeds of his son. All stupid supporters like Aitzaz Ahsan are responsible. I think at the end even Asma Jehangir realized that CJP is not a good man.

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Ismail

Dec 24, 2013 05:04pm

@Farhan: Agreed. We Muslims worship person after his death. Like we do for Shohda. When Pakistan gets good and honest leaders like Ayub Khan and Musharraf we do not realize good they did for Pakistan. see what the our Politicians have done to this great county. They have looted with four hands.

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Gerry D'Cunha

Dec 24, 2013 05:11pm

@Farhan: I agree with your comments and like to add which true leaders from quaid-e-azam to musharaf were not humilated in one way or the other!!!!!

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Sher

Dec 24, 2013 05:28pm

@Farhan: Dollar has great value.

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S Chaudhury

Dec 24, 2013 05:52pm

This case is personal revenge using sham courts. Justice is not the aim of these courts. This country is heaven for murderers, looters, corrupt & dishonest individuals who accumulates their wealth abroad

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Dec 24, 2013 06:40pm

Selective Justice or Selective Personal Vendetta; call it by any any other name which will mean the same. Unfortunate the sitting government has no other priority but pursuing a personal agenda through a sham court; simple to comprehend by a common mind but incomprehensible by a group of self-entitled political goons.

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Waqar Khan

Dec 24, 2013 06:44pm

If someone think Mush was honest and did great for the country, count the many innocent deaths after he came to power. Count the daily bombing and killing of innocent people on the daily base in Pakistan....Look at the energy problems in Pakistan...and see the image of Pakistan on a world forum after Mush had come/left the OFFICE. He break the law, and this is a crime. Please value the Mush Assets before and after and you'll see who is honest...Give me a break.

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Khalid

Dec 24, 2013 07:45pm

@S Chaudhury: Goes around, comes around.

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Khalid

Dec 24, 2013 08:19pm

@Sultan: Yes. Handing over Pakistanis to Americans for dollars was also in The Best Interest of Pakistan.

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Saad

Dec 24, 2013 08:28pm

Does Pakistan has a fair justice system?

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Faisal

Dec 24, 2013 08:29pm

Personal vendata and nothing else.

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NASAH (USA)

Dec 24, 2013 08:56pm

"Aur bhi ghum haiN zamanay meiN Musharraf kay sewa". Let him go.

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Ayesha Khan

Dec 24, 2013 10:29pm

Mr Musharaff was trying fight against corruption, and feudalism he is the same Gereral who stood up for his country and served the nation for more than 40 years. He fought two wars, remained in Siachin, and today his nation has nothing for him except disgrace. Most of the people of this nation do not deserve honest and sincere leaders.

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Pakistani

Dec 25, 2013 12:49am

Nothing will change in our country until the two corrupt parties are there (PPP & PMLN). Even God has given up on us.

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Ishtiaq

Dec 25, 2013 04:17am

Why is the new army chief not putting an end to this circus. General Musharraf has only tried to save his country and his reward is persecution by a judiciary who is joke in the world.

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Pakistani

Dec 25, 2013 04:28am

Revenge, revenge and revenge -- this how our so called democracy works. Punish patriots and award corrupts. God help Pakistan.

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syed

Dec 25, 2013 04:37am

on serious side, Musharraf was one of the good ones, love or hate him, it don't change the reality cause we have all tested and tried PPP and PML over and over and they failed over and over.. on the bright side... one of the rarest occasions when police actually find something BEFORE it explodes!!!

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Lahori

Dec 26, 2013 07:03am

We have found only one dishonest person in Pakistan.

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