Pervez Musharraf, the nation’s former president, and military dictator had been given the death penalty, but a Pakistani court has rejected it, calling it “unconstitutional.”
How was Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf removed? How did Musharraf lose power?
The Lahore High Court declared on Monday that the 76-year-old, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 2016, is now a free man and is permitted to return to Pakistan at any time.
Musharraf ruled Pakistan as its President from 2001 to 2008 after seizing control in a military coup in 1999.
He imposed a state of emergency in Pakistan in 2007, suspended the constitution, changed the chief judge, and shut down independent TV networks.
According to Musharraf, he took these actions to combat the burgeoning Islamist radicalism and stabilize the nation. The US and proponents of democracy harshly criticized the decision. His removal was openly demanded by Pakistanis.
He resigned in August 2008 after the ruling coalition started the impeachment process.
After that, Musharraf went into exile, but he came back to Pakistan in 2013 to participate in the national elections of that nation. Instead, when he became caught in a web of legal disputes about his time in office, his plans fell apart.
Five counts totaling three counts of subverting, suspending, and amending the country’s constitution, removing Pakistan’s chief justice, and imposing emergency rules were all brought against the former leader in 2014.
An army leader was prosecuted and convicted of treason for the first time in Pakistan’s history. High treason is a crime in Pakistan that carries the death penalty or a life sentence.