Musharraf demands presidential-level security to appear in Pak court in treason case

Pakistan's former dictator Gen Pervez Musharraf today demanded presidential-level security to appear before a special court hearing the treason case against him, saying his life is in "danger".

The previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had filed the treason case against Musharraf over the imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007. The 74-year-old former Army chief is currently living in Dubai.

A special court presided over by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Yawar summoned the interior secretary on August 27. The bench will also consider whether the trial can continue without recording Musharraf's statement.

Musharraf's attorney, Akhtar Shah, told the bench that his client wants to appear before the court in the high treason case but wants assurances that he would be given presidential-level security. The court observed that it is the federal government's duty to provide security for the accused and adjourned the hearing of the case till August 27, Dawn newspaper reported.

During the hearing, Shah told the Justice Ali-led two-member bench that his client would return and "appear before the court if he is given presidential level security by the defence ministry".

"Musharraf's life is in danger," he added. "There were two attempts on his life: once in the Islamabad court and the other in Quetta during the Akbar Bugti case hearing."