I have fought 2 wars and it's treason? asks Pervez Musharraf on indictment by Pakistan court

Islamabad: A Pakistani court Monday indicted former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for treason on charges relating to his 2007 imposition of emergency in a historic first for a country ruled for half its history by the army.

A special tribunal comprising three judges read out five charges, with the ex-president pleading "not guilty" to each of them.

Musharraf, who has been absent from most of the tribunal's hearings owing to security threats and ill health, then turned to address the court.

"I honour this court and prosecution, I strongly believe in law I don't have ego problems, and I have appeared in court 16 times in this year in Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi," the 70-year-old, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, said.

"I am being called a traitor, I have been chief of army staff for nine years and I have served this army for 45 years. I have fought two wars and it is 'treason'?"

Musharraf declared a state of emergency in November 2007 amid mounting legal challenges to his rule.

The former president, who is the first military ruler in Pakistan's history to be tried in court, has rejected all the charges levelled against him.

"Whatever I did, I did for the country and its people. I am sad that I am being called a traitor," Musharraf said.

Musharraf also said that he gave 44 years of his life to the Pakistan army and made defence invincible, adding that he gave repute and progress to the country.

Replying to this, Prosecutor Akram Sheikh said he has never used the word "traitor".

The three-judge court headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court read out the indictment against the ex-army strongman.

Prior to the indictment, Farogh Naseem, a new lawyer in Musharraf's defence team, requested the court to allow his client to travel to the UAE to see his 95-year-old ailing mother.

He said the Constitution did not allow anyone to restrict the movements of a citizen.

Naseem said Musharraf had arrived in court voluntarily, adding that the warrant against his client had not been implemented.

He said his client himself was unwell and that Musharraf's proper treatment was only possible in the US.

The defence team has filed two applications in this regard and the court said it will decide on these later in the day.

Security measures at the court were strengthened up in anticipation of Musharraf's appearance in court today, in compliance with an order issued on March 14, demanding his presence -- enforced or voluntary -- in the dock.

Musharraf was admitted to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Rawalpindi on January 2 after he complained of "heart problem" on his way to the court.

The military has ruled Pakistan for about half of its 66-year history and no ruler or top military commander has ever faced criminal prosecution before Musharraf.

Since Musharraf returned to Pakistan from self-exile in March last year, he has faced prosecution in four major cases, including for his alleged involvement in the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and the killing of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti in 2006.