Pervez Musharraf may testify in high treason and Bhutto murder case

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf may testify in the coming weeks in two important cases relating to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's murder and high treason, according to a media report today.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Rawalpindi may summon Musharraf to defend himself and counter the evidence produced by prosecutors in the Bhutto murder case, Dawn reported.

Two-time premier Bhutto was killed in a terrorist attack in 2007 when Musharraf was president of the country and he was implicated in the case in 2010 for his alleged role in the murder.

However, it remains to be seen whether the 'ailing' 72-year-old former president will appear personally before the court to get his statements recorded or testify through a video link.

Proceedings in the Benazir murder case commenced in 2008 and the trial is in its final stages as the prosecution is summoning its last few witnesses.

Musharraf may also be summoned by the special court in the high treason case, dealing with the imposition of emergency in 2007.

In August 2013, Musharraf was indicted in the case but he denied the charges.

The prosecution in the case has presented all the evidence and produced its witnesses before the court.

The high treason case will resume proceedings on March 8.

Advocate Mohammad Akram Sheikh, head of prosecution in the high treason case, said the Supreme Court had removed all legal 'hitches' in the trial of Musharraf.

According to him, Musharraf has to appear before the court if he wants to defend himself.

"I will cross-examine Musharraf after he records his statement," he said.

Advocate Faisal Hussain, one of the general's lawyers, said the former president was not well and it would be difficult for him to personally appear before the court.

He said that Musharraf would get his statement recorded through video link and the prosecution might cross-examine him accordingly.