The former military leader and president general (retd) Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency on November 3, 2007. Following the decision, a Provisional Constitutional Order was also issued, putting the Constitution in ‘abeyance’.
The former president also sacked as many as 61 judges. However, the federal and provincial governments, both houses of parliament and the provincial assemblies were kept intact. Musharraf’s decision to declare emergency came only 12 days before the expiration of his presidency.
Troops were deployed at Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan stations, while they also sealed off Islamabad thoroughfare where the presidency building, the National Assembly and the Supreme Court are located.
Complete timeline: Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf's treason trial
November 2013:
The Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz government files case against Musharraf for clamping the state of emergency on November 3, 2007.
November 2013:
Supreme Court forwards the names of five judges suitable to sit on the special court to hear the treason case.
December 2013:
The former president said that a treason charge levied against him was politically motivated and that he would face a show trial.
February 2014:
The former president finally appeared before the special court after avoiding 22 consecutive hearings since the high treason case started in December.
February 2014:
The special court summons the former president to appear before it on March 11 for his possible indictment.
March 2014:
Musharraf was indicted in the case on March 30 by the special court constituted. Musharraf pleaded not guilty, saying he would stand his ground.
April 2014:
The Ministry of Interior rejected Musharraf’s plea to remove his name from the Exit Control List.
May 2014:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) found Musharraf to be guilty for illegally declaring a state of emergency in 2007.
March 2016:
The former president sought medical treatment abroad and left for Dubai on March 18 after the Supreme Court removed his name from the Exit Control List.
May 2016:
The special court declared Musharraf an absconder since he did not appear before the court despite multiple summons.
March 2018:
The special bench dissolved after Justice Yahya Afridi recused himself from hearing the high treason case.
March 2018:
Musharraf requested the special court to provide him army's protection during his appearance for the treason trial and also the assurance that he would safely be returned to Dubai.
April 2018:
The former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar reconstituted a bench to hear the treason case.
May 31 2018:
The interior ministry asked the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports to suspend the computerized national identity card and passport of Musharraf.
June 2018:
NADRA suspended the computerized NIC of the former president.
June 2018:
The Supreme Court SC allowed Musharraf to run for polls on the condition that he appears in person before the court. However, the former president still did not return, saying that ‘barring the authorities from arresting me till my appearance before the court has forced me to rethink my plans about return.
August 2018:
The special court decides to resume the trial which was stalled due to Musharraf's departure from the country from August 20.
October 2019:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government sacked the entire prosecution team engaged by the PML-N government.
November 2019:
Concluding its proceedings in the treason case, the special court on November 20 said that it would announce its verdict on November 28.
November 2019:
Musharraf moved the Lahore High Court requesting it to bar the special court from announcing verdict in the case.
November 2019:
The government filed a similar petition in the Islamabad High Court requesting it to bar the special court from announcing its verdict.
November 2019
: On November 27, the IHC barred the special court from announcing its verdict. Thespecial court, however, noted that it was not bound to obey the high court's order.
December 2019:
Musharraf, in a video statement from his hospital bed that the treason case against him is absolutely baseless. Musharraf said he has served his country for 10 years and has fought wars for Pakistan.
December 2019:
Special court said that it will announce the verdict in the case on December 17.
December 2019:
Musharraf again moves the LHC to stay the trial at the special court until his earlier petition in the high court is decided.
December 2019:
A special court hands down death penalty to the former president. In its verdict, the bench found the former military ruler guilty of high treason according to Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The writer is a Senior Sub-editor at Business Recorder
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