Pakistan’s ex-military ruler Musharraf jailed

Pakistan’s ex-military ruler Musharraf jailed
Sat Apr 20, 2013 17:06:46

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has been jailed for 14 days until the next hearing on his case is going to be held on May 4, local media reported.

Musharraf appeared before an anti-terrorism court for first hearing into his case in the capital, Islamabad on Saturday. The judge ruled that he would be given judicial remand by 14 days, which means that he would be held in jail until May 4.
 

The ex-military ruler was brought to the court under heavy security. Sources say angry lawyers shouted slogans calling for Musharraf to be tried for treason. His supporters and opponents clashed inside and outside the court.


On Thursday, Islamabad’s High Court ordered the former president’s detention on accusation of keeping the judges under house arrest for about six months in 2007 after he imposed emergency rule.
 


Police arrested Musharraf on Friday and took him into custody at a guest house in police headquarters in the city. The High Court ruled that the allegations amounted to an act of terrorism and ordered him to appear at Islamabad's anti-terror court.
 


"The court has sent General Musharraf on judicial remand for two weeks," Muhammad Amjad, a spokesman for Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League party, told reporters.
 


"Our lawyers denied the allegations that General Musharraf sacked judges and kept them and their families under house arrest for six months. It is absolutely untrue," Amjad added.

 

He further said "we had requested the court to send General Musharraf on judicial remand, so that we can go to higher courts for relief."

 

Pakistan’s former army chief-turned-president faces a string of charges including involvement in the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the killing of a Baluch leader.

 

Musharraf, who seized power in a coup in 1999, resigned in 2008 and went into self-imposed exile in London and Dubai. He returned to Pakistan in March after nearly four years, despite threats by pro-Taliban insurgents to kill him upon his arrival.

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