Islamabad, Pakistan – The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of the late former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in the high treason case on Wednesday, reversing the Lahore High Court’s decision to declare the sentence unconstitutional.
The four-judge SC bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, announced the decision, ruling that the earlier Lahore High Court order was not sustainable. In December 2019, Musharraf was found guilty of high treason and received a death sentence, marking the first time in Pakistan’s history that a military chief had been convicted.
The Lahore High Court had later declared unconstitutional all government actions against Musharraf, including the filing of the high treason charges and the formation of a special court. The Supreme Court had scheduled to hear a set of appeals related to the case in November, after which the decision to uphold the death sentence was made.
The counsels in the matter had challenged the Lahore High Court’s decision, citing issues of jurisdiction and the maintainability of Musharraf’s petition. The Supreme Court had also raised concerns about the Lahore High Court decision, noting that it addressed issues beyond the initial petition. The court finally dismissed the appeals, stating that despite attempts, Musharraf’s legal heirs could not be contacted.
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence of Pervez Musharraf marks a significant development in the high-profile treason case and sets a precedent in Pakistan’s judicial history.