Musharraf should be tried for treason, says PM

The former military dictator Pervez Musharraf should be tried for high treason, Pakistan’s prime minister said, raising the prospect of a serious clash between the country’s civilian and military masters.

A treason trial would mark the first time in Pakistan’s history that a military ruler has been held accountable, and the decision was cheered by many who believe the country’s overweening army needs to accept the primacy of elected politicians.

The announcement by Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's recently elected prime minister, ended months of speculation over whether the government would dare take on a former president and army chief who could face the death penalty if found guilty of overturning the country's constitution.

Only the government is able to try someone for treason, for which a special court will have to be established.

Although Gen Musharraf is currently under house arrest and has negligible support in the country, many observers have long claimed the still powerful military elite would never allow one of its former chiefs to be tried by a civilian court.

“Musharraf is still more popular in the army than Kayani,” said a lawyer, Chaudry Faisal Fareed, referring to Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the current army chief.

He said Mr Sharif risked “opening a Pandora’s Box” if the trial expanded to drag in other high-ranking officers.

Gen Musharraf’s actions amounted to “high treason”, Mr Sharif told parliament yesterday, promising that the former dictator had to “answer for all his deeds in court”.

“The prime minister is under oath to protect, preserve and defend the constitution and it is implicit in his oath that his government ensures that persons guilty of acts under Article 6 are brought to justice,” he said.

Pakistan’s attorney general said the government would bring treason charges against Gen Musharraf for imposing emergency rule in 2007.

In a statement, Gen Musharraf’s spokesman said the Sharif government was “demonstrating recklessness in its intention to pursue unwarranted treason charges”.

– (Guardian service)