The Lahore High Court also ruled that the treason case against Pervez Musharraf was not prepared in accordance with the law
New Delhi: There is a huge relief for Pakistan’s former President, a top court on Monday declared Pervez Musharraf’s trial in the high treason case as “unconstitutional”, leading to the nullification of the death sentence against the ex-Army chief by a special tribunal.
On 17 December 2019, the special court in Islamabad handed down the death penalty to the 74-year-old Musharraf, now based in Dubai, after six years of hearing the high-profile treason case against him.
The case was filed by the Pakistan Muslim League headed by Ex- prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2013.
A three-member full bench of the Lahore High Court consisting of Justices Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Mohammad Ameer Bhatti, and Chaudhry Masood Jahangir unanimously declared the formation of the special court against Musharraf as “unconstitutional”.
The Lahore High Court also ruled that the treason case against Pervez Musharraf was not prepared in accordance with the law. The present government of Prime Minister Imran Khan had backed Musharraf in challenging the death penalty.
“The Lahore High Court has declared unconstitutional all actions right from the beginning of the complaint and its conclusion against Pervez Musharraf by the special court,” Additional Attorney General of Pakistan Ishtiaq A Khan told media.
“Musharraf is a free man now,” Khan added.
Responding to the verdict, Musharraf lauded the verdict of the Lahore High Court, saying that the court made the decision according to the law and Constitution.
Musharraf said, “The decision is really good but I cannot comment on Verdict, I am very happy about the judgment is as per the law and Constitution.” He added his condition was gradually improving.
“I am grateful to all those who prayed for my health,” media quoted Musharraf as saying in Dubai.
The special court found that the former president, now living in Dubai on Musharraf, guilty of high treason by abrogating the Constitution and imposing an extra-constitutional emergency in Pakistan in November 2007 and handed him the death sentence.
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