Pakistan SC allows Musharraf to file nomination for July poll
Islamabad, June 7: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that former military dictator General Pervez Musharraf, disqualified for life, can conditionally file his nomination papers to contest the general elections on July 25.
A three- judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan ( CJP) Saqib Nisar, also directed the 74year- old Mr Musharraf, currently based in Dubai, to appear before the court on June 13.
The bench resumed the hearing of Musharraf ’ s review petition against his disqualification for life by the Peshawar high court in 2013. Directing Musharraf to appear before its Lahore registry, the apex court also assured that he will not be arrested by the government.
Mr Musharraf, who is the head of All Pakistan Muslim League ( APML), has been residing in Dubai since March 2016 after leaving the county on medical grounds. He is facing a high- profile treason case and has been declared absconder due to his persistent failure to appear before the special trial court set up to try him in the case.
The former president was indicted in March 2014 on treason charges for imposing emergency in the country which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges.
A conviction for highprofile treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. Musharraf has sought adequate security from the government for his return from the UAE to appear before a special Pakistani court in the high- profile treason case.