Musharraf to be charged for high treason on March 31

A special court in Pakistan will frame formal high treason charges against former military president Pervez Musharraf on March 31, a court order said Thursday.

The verdict was issued after reports suggested that Justice Faisal Arab has quit the three-member special court because of claims by Musharraf’s defence lawyers that the judge is not impartial.

The court, however, clarified that Justice Arab had walked out of the proceedings only for one day as Musharraf’s lawyer, Anwar mansoor, said he is not satisfied with the court’s proceedings.

The court’s order also said the earlier decision of summoning Musharraf on March 31 will persist and that he would be arrested if he failed to appear. The court has already issued the non- bailable arrest warrant for the former president.

The special court also dismissed petitions filed against the non-bailable arrest warrant of Musharraf.

Musharraf faces high treason charges for suspending the constitution when he declared emergency rule in 2007.