Pakistan’s Pervez Musharraf Faces Terrorism Court

Pakistan’s former leader Pervez Musharraf has appeared at an anti-terrorism court over claims he illegally detained judges in 2007.

Mr Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan between 1999 and 2007, was arrested on Friday.

The High Court ruled that the allegations amounted to an act of terrorism and ordered him to appear at Islamabad’s anti-terror court.

Mr Musharraf has described the case against him as politically motivated.

Last month Mr Musharraf returned from years of self-imposed exile hoping to lead his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) party into the general election next month.

However, he has failed in his bid to register as a candidate with election officials.

The case for which he has been arrested relates to his controversial decision to dismiss judges including Chief Justice Mohammad Iftikhar Chaudhry when he imposed emergency rule in 2007.

The BBC’s Shahzeb Jillani, outside the Islamabad court, says pro and anti-Musharraf lawyers have gathered to shout slogans at each other.

Mr Musharraf faces several other criminal cases and had been trying to stave off arrest since he returned.

The Pakistani Taliban have also vowed to assassinate the former president, who seized power in a 1999 coup.

BBC