A special court in Pakistan's capital Islamabad formally indicted former President General Pervez Musharraf for high treason on Monday.
Musharraf pleaded not guilty to the charges that he violated the constitution by imposing a state of emergency in 2007, suspended the fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan and forced senior members of the judiciary to swear an oath under a provisional constitutional order imposed during the emergency.
"All the charges against me are false. I have served Pakistan for 44 years but I am being declared a traitor, which hurts me," said Musharraf. "I strengthened the country's economy, and rid the country of IMF. I have never been involved in corruption. I worked for this country with sincerity."
Musharraf, who was forced to resign in August 2008 following an impeachment threat by the then ruling and opposition parties, appeared in the court for the second time since the beginning of the treason case against him on December 24.
He was reportedly moved to an intensive care unit in a military hospital on Sunday night but interior ministry sources told Anadolu Agency that Musharraf agreed to appear in the court after police officials were ordered by the federal government to enforce a court-ordered arrest warrant should Musharraf not comply.
By Aamir Latif
englishnews@aa.com.tr
