Musharraf to be tried for high treason: Pak Interior Minister

Pakistan government today announced that it will move the court to try former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for high treason, punishable by death or life imprisonment, for imposing emergency rule in 2007.
"Following the judgement of the Supreme Court and a report submitted by an inquiry committee, it has been decided to start proceedings against General Pervez Musharraf under Article 6 (for high treason) of the Constitution," Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a press conference here.
He said the proceedings will begin from tomorrow and a three-member bench of the Supreme Court would hear the case.
Nisar said the government will approach the Supreme Court to set up a Commission and a public prosecutor would be appointed tomorrow itself.

The Minister said Musharraf had committed crimes against the people of Pakistan and against the constitution. He asserted that nobody, not even the Prime Minister can offer him pardon.
Musharraf, 70, is currently on bail in all cases registered against him since his return to Pakistan in a bid to contest general election in May.

Analysts say he could be arrested in the high treason case.
Nisar said Musharraf had refused to appear before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team probing the case. He made it clear that the government has no personal vendetta against Musharraf.
The FIA had a number of evidences against Musharraf in connection with the high treason case, Nisar said.

Official sources had earlier told PTI that Pakistan's probe against Musharraf in the high treason case was in the last stages, signalling that the former dictator's woes have not ended despite getting bail in four major cases.