Pakistan court declares judgment against Musharraf 'unconstitutional'

Lahore - Musharraf had challenged the formation of the court for the sole purpose of trying him for treason.

A Pakistani high court on Monday revoked a guilty verdict and death sentence handed down to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for treason, declaring that the formation of a special court that sentenced him was unconstitutional, a government law officer said.
Musharraf was sentenced to death in absentia by a special court in December on charges stemming from his imposition of a state of emergency in 2007. The head of a three-judge panel ruled that his corpse should hang for three days if the general died before his execution.
Musharraf had challenged the formation of the court for the sole purpose of trying him for treason.
The Lahore High Court "has declared everything from the initiation of the complaint and its conclusion unconstitutional," Additional Attorney-General of Pakistan Ishtiaq A. Khan, who represented the government in the case told Reuters.
Musharraf's lawyer also said the sentence had been revoked. "Lahore High Court has nullified the decision about Pervez Musharraf," Azhar Siddique said.
Musharraf, 76, who seized power in a 1999 coup and ruled as president until 2008, is currently receiving medical treatment in Dubai. He is the first former army chief to have been charged with treason in Pakistan and has said the powerful military helped him get out of the country.
The final years of his rule were marked by struggles with the judiciary over his wish to remain head of the army while president. He quit in 2008, after a political party that backed him fared poorly in national elections.

• Pakistan