Special court verdict based on personal vendetta: Pervez Musharraf

DUBAI: General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has said the special court’s death penalty verdict against him was based on "personal vendetta", Geo News reported.

"I heard the special court’s verdict against me on television," Musharraf said in a video message released on Wednesday. "There is no example of such a verdict in the past where neither the defendant nor his lawyers were given permission to speak in his defence." Musharraf said he had offered to give his statement to a special commission if they visit him in Dubai, where the former military dictator is currently undergoing medical treatment.

Musharraf said his request was ignored. "I call this verdict suspicious because supremacy of the law was ignored from the start to the end during the hearings ofthis case," he said.

Musharraf said that he respected the Pakistani judiciary and that, similar to Chief Justice Khosa, he also believed that everyone was equal before the law. "However, in my opinion, Chief Justice Khosa showed his intentions and his determination to the public himself by saying that he ensured a speedy verdict in this case. How can the judges who gained personal benefits during my tenure issue a judgement against me?"

He thanked the Pakistani people and the Pakistan Armed Forces for remembering his services for the country. "This is the biggest honour for me, which I will take to my grave," he said. Musharraf said he will announce his plan of action regarding the case after consulting his legal team.