The UAE members of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), headed by former Pakistan president and army chief, General Pervez Musharraf, are shocked by the death sentence verdict issued by a three-member bench of a special court on Tuesday. Malik Mubashir, president of Youth Wing of APML, told Khaleej Times in an interview that they were stunned to hear the news of the death penalty for the former army general in the high treason case and subverting the constitution. "No one thought in our community and members that death penalty verdict could be pronounced by the court. We'll meet in Dubai or Sharjah today and discuss the next step with our party members today evening," Mubashir said. With regard to challenging the verdict, he said the decision will be taken following a meeting with the lawyers. Legal experts in Islamabad said Musharraf can challenge the order in the High Court. The high treason trial of the former leader, who is currently in Dubai, for clamping the state of emergency on November 3, 2007, had been pending since December 2013, reports Dawn news.
The special court, headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth, had announced its verdict in the case on Tuesday. Musharraf has been residing in the UAE for the last few years and undergoes treatment regularly at a local hospital in Dubai. Sources said Musharraf regularly visits the hospital for treatment and sometime stays for days and kept under observation. In November, the former army general had issued a video recording from a hospital bed in Dubai in which he said he was not being given a fair hearing in the case that was filed by the government in 2013. He said that he was not treated fairly in the case and was being victimized. "I am unwell and keep visiting the hospital regularly. I blacked out and then I was brought here in the hospital. This case against me is baseless. I have done a lot for this country and fought wars for it. Therefore, it is baseless case. My point of view is not being heard and neither my lawyer is allowed to present the case," he said in the video message. The court's full ruling was not available, but the summary said that it had analyzed complaints, records, arguments and facts in the case and had reached a majority verdict, with two of the three judges giving the decision against Musharraf. After overthrowing the government of former prime minister of PML-N Nawaz Sharif, Musharraf seized power in a 1999 coup and later ruled as president. waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com
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