Pervez Musharraf Death Penalty
HISTORIC JUDGEMENT
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| pervez musharraf |
A three member bench of the special court, headed by peshawar high court chief justice waqar ahmad seth, handed musharraf, 76, death sentence in the long drawan high treason case against him for suspending the constitution and imposing emergency rule in 2007, a punishable offence for which he was indicted in 2014
The special court's order came despite and earlier islamabad High Court (IHC) order stopping it form issuing the verdict
HIGH TREASON
High treason -1 [ (1) Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be quilty of high treason.]
Article 6 of the constitution
WHAT MUSHARAF DID
A state of emergency was declared by president of pakistan pervez musharraf 3 november 2007 and lasted until the 15 december 2007 during which the constitution of pakistan was suspended.
when the state of emergency was declared, musharrsf controversially held both position of president and chief of army staff.
chief justice lftikhar muhammad chaudhry reactecd promptly to the emergency declaration, convening a seven member bench which issued an interim order against this action.
he also directed the armed force of pakistan not to obey any illegal orders.
subsequently, the 111th brigade of the pakistan army entered the supreme court building and removed chaudhry and several other judge from the supreme court and arrested them.
WHY DID MUSHARAF DO THIS?
General musharraf said he decided to act in response to a rise in extremism and what he called the paralysis of government by judicial interference.
"I fear that if timely action is not taken, then god forbid there is a threat to pakistan's sovereignty." he said in a midnigh televised address, after purging the supreme court and rounding up lawyers opposed to him.
"I cannot allow this county to commit suicide."
Because of US pressure pakistan had started action against pakistan taliban.
As the pak military took more steps the pakistan taliban responded with a string of terror attacks
SIEGE OF LAL MASJID
A confrontation in july 2007 between islamic fundamentalists and the government of pakistan, led by president pervez musharraf and prime minister shaukat aziz.
The focal points of the operation were the lal masjid ("Red Mosque") and the jamia hafsa madrasah complex in Iskamabad, Pakistan.
FAIL FORM POWER
November 28, 2007: Musharraf retires form the military handing over the army charge to gen ashfaq parvez kayani. on november 29, Musharraf takes oath as a civillian president.
December 15, 2007: The emergency is lifted and the provisional constitutional order (PCO) is revoked and seeks constitutional amendments to validate the action taken during the 42 day long emergency period.
August 18, 2008: president musharraf resigns from office after nine years in power.
BACKLASH
March 2013: musharraf return to contest general election. A senior counsel refers to SC's ruling on Musharraf's actions during the imposition of emergency arguing that in overthrowing the constitution, Musharraf had committed the offence of high treason.
June 2013: The government hurrienly files a petition to try musharraf for treason under Article 6 of the constitution. it further sets up a special investigation team to probe the charges against the former president.
November 2013: Pakistan supreme court orders the formation of a three-judge special court to prosecute former military ruler pervez musharraf.
CONCLUSION
What has happened in pakistan is a welcome step and will be remembered as a historical decision to curb the military influence in pakistan.
