Musharraf treason case: All evidence points to crime of high treason, court says.

LAHORE -- A special court which had pronounced General (retd) Pervez Musharraf guilty of high treason earlier this week issued its detailed verdict on the matter on Thursday.

Dismissing criticism of a trial conducted 'in haste', the special court in its detailed verdict stated that Musharraf had 'been afforded more than his due share of fair trial' and 'given every opportunity to defend himself'.

The court further said that 'the facts of the case are well documented' and 'clearly demonstrate guilt on part of the accused'.

"The trial of high treason is the requirement of the Constitution against those individuals who undermine or attempt to undermine the Constitution by any means," the judgement stated.

"This Court after the presentation of undeniable, irrefutable and unimpeachable evidence by the prosecution against the accused reaches to the conclusion that indeed accused [Musharraf] is guilty and deserves exemplary punishment.

The court had sentenced Musharraf to death on Tuesday for imposing a state of emergency on November 3, 2007, adding that it had found him guilty of high treason in accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The case was heard by a bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth of the Peshawar High Court, Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court and Justice Nazar Akbar of the Sindh High Court.

'We, with the majority of 2 as to 1, allow the complaint and hold the accused guilty of high treason as defined at Article 6 of the Constitution and pass punishment under section 2 High Treason (Punishment) Act, 1973. Thus, the convict be hanged by his neck till he is dead,' the judgement issued today read. Justice Akbar dissented from the decision.

"It would be in the interest of justice that all those involved (if any) in facilitation of the escape of the fugitive accused may also brought in the net of due course of law and their criminal acts (if any) may be investigated and tried in accordance with law," the judgement added.

'It is unbelievable and unimaginable that such an extreme act is committed alone by a single man in uniform,' Justice Seth, presiding judge of the bench, wrote in his verdict.

'The then Corps Commanders Committee, in addition to all uniformed officers who were guarding him [Musharraf] each and every time, with boots on, are equally and full involved in the act and deeds of the accused person.'

"Each and every member of the Armed Forces, as per their oath under the 3rd schedule to the...