ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has upheld the death sentence of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday, marking a landmark judgment in the country’s history.
Musharraf, who passed away in 2023, was sentenced to death in absentia by a special court in December 2019 for imposing a state of emergency in 2007 and keeping the constitution in abeyance. The ruling was later declared unconditional by the Lahore High Court in January 2020, leading to the issue being brought before the Supreme Court.
A four-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, conducted the hearing and ultimately set aside the January 2020 ruling of the Lahore High Court, upholding the death sentence for Musharraf.
This judgment marks the first time a former military dictator in Pakistan has been punished for subverting the Constitution, highlighting a significant moment in the country’s legal and political history.
Musharraf, who was the architect of the Kargil War in 1999 and the last military ruler of Pakistan, passed away in Dubai after a prolonged illness. He had been living in the UAE in self-exile since 2016 to avoid facing criminal charges in Pakistan.
The December 2019 ruling by the special court and the subsequent legal battle represent a turning point in the relationship between Pakistan’s military establishment and the country’s judiciary, marking a significant moment in the ongoing struggle for the rule of law in the country.
The judgment has sparked controversy and debate surrounding the role of the military in Pakistan’s politics and its impact on the country’s democratic institutions and governance. It remains to be seen how this ruling will shape the future of political accountability and the rule of law in Pakistan.