ISLAMABAD, April 16
(Xinhua) -- Pakistan's top court on
Monday sought reply from the
government about petitions seeking former
President Pervez Musharraf's trial for
subverting the constitution and imposing
an emergency rule in 2007, local media
reported.
The Supreme Court in
its interim order asked the government
whether or not it wants high
treason proceedings against Musharraf, who
returned to Pakistan last month after
over four years of self
exile.
The two-member bench
said that the federation has not
yet replied to the petitions despite
issuance of notices last week. The
court asked the attorney general to
submit its replies by April 17 when
the court resumes hearing of the
case.
Attorney General Irfan
Qadir told the apex court that
the government has not yet given
him any instructions about the
case.
Musharraf also submitted
his reply through his defence council,
asking for a full court to hear
the petitions.
The court last
week rejected plea from the
petitioners to arrest the former
president. However, it banned Musharraf
from leaving the country. The Interior
Ministry later put his name on
the Exit Control
List.
Musharraf is also facing
other charges, including the ones over
the 2006 killing of Baloch tribal
leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and the 2007
assassination of former Premier Benazir
Bhutto.
Musharraf, who ruled
Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, denied all
charges and said he will defend
himself in courts. He had resigned
in August 2008 to avoid impeachment by
the parliament and then went into
exile.
He returned to Pakistan
last month after over four years
of self exile in Britain and
the UAE. He is now taking part
in the parliamentary elections and
also plans to campaign for his
All Pakistan Muslim League party.