Pakistan’s former military ruler and president Parvez Musharraf has said he won’t seek pardon and asserted that Pakistan army was behind him.

Islamabad, Dec 30/Nationalturk – Terming treason charges against him as a political “vendetta”, Pakistan’s former military ruler and president Parvez Musharraf has said he won’t seek pardon and asserted that Pakistan army was behind him.

“The way this special tribunal (for treason charges) was formed, which involved the prime minister and the ex-chief justice, this itself smacks a little bit of a vendetta,” Musharraf told Pakistan TV channel.

The treason charges against him in the court will resume on January 1.  The treason charges relate to Musharraf’s imposition of emergency rule in November 2007, and if found guilty he could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.

His lawyers have dismissed the charges as an attempt by the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whom Musharraf ousted in a bloodless coup in 1999, to settle old scores through the courts.

‘I’ve no objection to defending myself’

“I have no objection to defending myself before a “fair tribunal or court”. I was not optimistic about the special panel convened to hear the case,” Musharraf said.

Asked whether military supported him, he said, “I would say the whole army is upset. I have led the army from the front. I have no doubt with the feedback that I received that the whole army is totally with me on this issue.”

“On October 12, 1999 I was travelling by air, but the decisive action was done on the ground. If the matter was probed, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would himself be involved in the case. On that day the Pakistani army chief was being sent to India instead of Pakistan,” he said adding Sharif wanted to save his face on the October 12 issue.

Stating that Sharif was provided all the facilities in Attock Fort, he said General Kayani was part of all that was happening.

Asked if it was improper for an elected prime minister and his colleagues to be sent to jail by the army, Musharraf replied, “Is it not improper that a flight carrying the country’s army chief is told it cannot land in Pakistan and instructed to land in India instead.”

‘I won’t accept an option that shows me a coward’

Pakistan’s former military ruler said he would not accept an option that would show him as a coward person, and if sentenced he would not seek pardon. “The government should dispense justice to me and none of my action was anti-nation. I will not opt for any solution which creates an impression that I acted out of fear””.

Asked whether he wants to leave the country under the garb of meeting his ill-mother in Dubai, he said, “I was concerned about the health of my mother and would go to the extent of seeking a pardon from anyone, but not Nawaz Sharif, for the sake of my mother”.

‘Fmr CJ interfered in affairs of executive’

Taking a dig at former Chief Justice of country Chief Justice (Retd) Iftikhar Chaudhary, Musharraf alleged that was an ‘activist chief justice’ and all and sundry were upset with his activism.

Blaming the former chief justice for interfering in the affairs of the executive, he said, “Chaudhary called on me and I, while in uniform, did not summon him”.

Asked whether he has any regrets for returning to Pakistan, he said, “No. I came back to Pakistan to face cases against me and because people wanted change. However, I did not expect to be charged with high treason.”

He said rising terrorism and harm done to the national economy were among the major causes for the imposition of emergency in November 2007. “I took the (November 3) action following a request by then prime minister Shaukat Aziz,” added Musharraf”

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