Musharraf faces trial for treason

Pakistani former military ruler Pervez Musharraf is due to go on trial on treason charges.He will appear before a special court in Islamabad - a day after his petition that only a military court could examine his actions was rejected, BBC reproted.The charge relates to his decision in 2007 to suspend the constitution and impose emergency rule.Mr Musharraf, who is on bail in several other cases, says all the accusations against him are politically motivated.The 70-year-old also faces separate charges of murder and restricting the judiciary.He is the first Pakistani former military ruler to face trial for treason.'I will not run away'Mr Musharraf seized power in a military coup in 1999 and remained president until 2008 when a democratically elected government forced him to resign.He went into exile soon afterwards.On Monday, Mr Musharraf's lawyers had argued - unsuccessfully - that as he was the army chief in 2007, only a military court had the authority to try him.But Islamabad's high court rejected the petition. It also dismissed objections over the appointment of judges and prosecutor.Mr Musharraf ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup.After his resignation in 2008 he left Pakistan to live in self-imposed exile in Dubai and London.On his return in March he hoped he could lead his party into elections, but was disqualified from standing and found himself fighting an array of charges relating to his time in power.Speaking last week, he defended his actions during his nine-year rule."Whatever I did was for the betterment and welfare of Pakistan and its people," he told Pakistan's private ARY television channel."I will face all cases... I will not run away."ANN.Az