Pakistan court stays trial of Musharraf in treason proceedings

Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Tuesday directed a special tribunal to halt the trial of former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf after three new accused challenged a decision to include them in the treason proceedings. [caption id=“attachment_2003379” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A Pakistan court stayed trial of General Pervez Musharraf in the treason proceedings. AP[/caption] Islamabad High Court heard the petition of former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, ex-Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and former law minister Zahid Hamid - who have been termed as co-accused in the treason trial against 71-year-old Musharraf. They challenged the decision of the three-member special tribunal which last month ordered inclusion of some of aides of Musharraf in trial as abettors. Judge Athar Minallah directed the tribunal to stop the trial proceeding till adjudication of the petitions and postponed the hearing till 15 February. Musharraf trial started last December for suspending the constitution in 2007 when he imposed emergency. The suspension is considered under article 6 of the constitution of the country as treason, punishable with death. Musharraf grabbed power in bloodless coup in 1999 and ruled till 2008. He remained in UK and UAE for about five year before returning in 2013 to participate in elections but was implicated in several criminal cases including killing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007. He is on bail in at least three criminal cases. Currently, Musharraf lives in Karachi with his daughter after government refused to allow him to travel abroad. PTI