Musharraf's counsel asks Pak SC to determine new govt's view in treason case

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf's lawyer has requested the Supreme Court to find out what the newly-elected federal government's views are on the treason proceedings against his client.

Musharraf's counsel, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, put forward the request in front of the three-judge bench during the proceedings. The bench, however, deferred the hearing till June 24, observing that the new government might clarify its stance in the coming days, reports The Express Tribune.

Musharraf is also facing other legal cases, including the 2007 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto and the killing of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006.

Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, denied all charges and said he would defend himself in courts. He had resigned in August 2008 to avoid impeachment by the parliament and went into exile since then.

The former military dictator had returned to Pakistan in March after over four years of self-imposed exile in London and Dubai to take part in the May 11 parliamentary elections for his All Pakistan Muslim League party, but was disqualified from doing so by the Election Commission of Pakistan.