I was denied fair trial: Musharraf.

DUBAI -- Expressing grave concern over the verdict against him in the high treason case, former President and Army Chief General (r) Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said that he was denied the fundamental right of self-defence in the case.

Terming the verdict skeptical, Pervez Musharraf said that he was not given a chance to record his testimony before the probe committee and the special commission.

Musharraf issued a video statement from his hospital bed in Dubai, blasting the death sentence given to him by the special court.

The former president said there was no precedence of a verdict in which neither the defendant nor the counsel was allowed to present its case. 'I also offered to record a statement before a special commission but to no avail,' he said. 'I term this decision questionable because the supremacy of law was not taken into consideration.'

The former president said that according to the Constitution, the case was not bound to be heard but was taken up due to personal vengeance of some people against him.

'An individual was targeted by high-ups misusing their authority,' he said, adding 'I respect Pakistan's judiciary... I endorse Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa's statement that everyone is equal before the law but I think he exposed himself when he said that he made sure the early disposal of this case...How can a judge, who benefited during my tenure, give a judgment against me?'

He thanked the Pakistani nation and Armed Forces 'who recalled my services for the country... this is the biggest honour for me.'

Musharraf said he will decide the future course of action after consultation with his legal team. 'I have faith in Pakistan's judiciary and believe that it will provide me justice based on the supremacy of law,' he concluded.

In the video message aired on private TV channel yesterday night, Musharraf said supremacy of the law was not taken into consideration in the case.

Musharraf said he was being victimised.

Musharraf noted that he heard the sentence awarded to him by the Special Court via television. Raising questions over the verdict, Musharraf said that due...