ISLAMABAD — Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s former military ruler, pleaded not guilty to treason Monday after being indicted in Islamabad, according to lawyers in the case.
The indictment marks a turning point for Pakistan, where the military has long dominated the civilian leadership and no military ruler has ever been tried for abuse of power.
As the charges were read, Musharraf stood defiantly.
“I fought two wars for the country,” he said. “I gave 44 years of my life to Pakistan’s army. The country was nearing default in 1999 when I assumed power, but I restored the country’s honor.”
Musharraf is accused of subverting Pakistan’s constitution in 2007, when he imposed emergency rule and fired high-ranking judicial officials.
He resigned under threat of impeachment in 2008 and left the country. He returned in March 2013 to revive his career but found himself ensnared in a phalanx of court cases stemming from his time in power.
The treason charge is the most serious one; if convicted, he could be sentenced to death. It’s unclear, however, whether the case will ever get to the verdict stage, given his health. Proceedings began in December, but Musharraf’s appearance Monday was only his second in 37 hearings. His lawyers cite security and health concerns for his absences.
On Jan. 2, Musharraf was on his way to court but went instead to a military hospital after complaining of heart trouble.
Since then, the justices hearing the case have expressed their unhappiness with Musharraf’s continuing absence.
The panel, headed by Justice Faisal Arab, issued an arrest warrant for Musharraf that would have gone into effect had he failed to appear Monday.
Muhammad Farogh Naseem, a lawyer for Musharraf, urged the court to allow him to travel to the United Arab Emirates to visit his mother, who he said was in critical condition in a hospital there. Naseem also asked that Musharraf be allowed to go to the United States, where he would prefer to receive treatment.
Musharraf, 70, has faced a series of charges since returning to Pakistan. They involve his alleged role in the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the death of a Baluch separatist leader killed by the army, the killing of a radical cleric, and the detention of judges.
The high treason case is by far the most serious.
It stems from Musharraf’s decision to suspend the constitution and detain judges. Musharraf said Monday that he did not subvert the constitution and that he acted on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet.