Musharraf appeals against special court's decision

He is facing the charge of high treason, which can carry the death sentence, for imposing Emergency in 2007

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf's counsel Thursday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the decision of a special court not to allow the high treason case against his client to be held in a military court.

The former army chief is facing the charge of high treason, which can carry the death sentence, for imposing Emergency and subverting the constitution in 2007.

Earlier, the special court, which was set up to try Musharraf, Feb 21 raised objections against the defendant's appeal to conduct the treason trial in a military court, the Dawn online reported.

The court had ruled that the treason trial of the former president would not take place in a military court and had summoned him before it March 11.

Meanwhile, the defence team had argued that Musharraf should be tried by a military court.

The three-judge court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court, had deferred the framing of charges until the apex court announced its verdict on whether or not the special court has the jurisdiction to try the retired general for treason.

Musharraf has been in a military hospital since Jan 2 after he fell ill while travelling to court.

Musharraf faces charges of abrogating the Constitution of Pakistan and detaining judges of the higher judiciary after imposing emergency Nov 3, 2007, while he was the president.