Islamabad - Speaking from his hospital bed
in Dubai, Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf said
a special court's decision to sentence him to death in a high
treason case was the result of a "personal vendetta".
Musharraf, who was tried and sentenced in absentia, said in
a video released late on Wednesday the allegations against him
were politically motivated and it was "an unprecedented case in
which neither the defendant, nor his lawyer were allowed to
defend the case."
An anti-terrorism court sentenced Musharraf to death on
Tuesday after finding him guilty of high treason and subverting
the constitution in 2007.
The verdict sent shudders through the military, which has
ruled Pakistan for the a large portion of its history and
remains highly influential. The army issued a strongly worded
statement and accusing the court of ignoring legal process,
defending Musharraf's patriotism, and saying the ruling had
caused "pain and anguish" in the ranks.
The 76-year-old Musharraf seized power in a coup in 1999 and
later ruled as president.
In November 2007, Musharraf suspended the constitution and
imposed emergency rule - a move which sparked protests. He
resigned in 2008 to avoid the threat of impeachment.
Supporters of former Pakistani military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf protest a court's decision to sentence Musharraf to death in a treason case related to the state of emergency he imposed in 2007 while in power. Picture: Fareed Khan/AP
When Nawaz Sharif - an old rival whom he deposed in the 1999
coup - was elected prime minister in 2013, he initiated a
treason trial against Musharraf and in 2014 the former general
was charged for high treason.
"This case was taken up only due to personal vendetta by
some people against me," Musharraf said in the video statement.
Musharraf travelled to Dubai, where he is receiving medical
treatment, after a travel ban was lifted in 2016 and he has
refused to appear before the court, despite multiple orders.
His political party had earlier said it would challenge the
verdict.