Pakistan poised for treason trial

By Zaffar Abbas BBC, Islamabad

Mr Hashmi is being victimised, his supporters say

A court in Pakistan has formally charged a prominent opposition politician on five counts including treason and inciting mutiny.

Javed Hashmi is president of the opposition grouping the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, ARD.

He was arrested last year, after he distributed a letter, allegedly written by army officers, which was critical of President Musharraf and his policies.

If found guilty, Mr Hashmi could be sentenced to life imprisonment.

'Jail court'

The court, which has been set up inside a jail in the city of Rawalpindi, heard the first case of treason against a senior opposition politician in Pakistan since former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif.

Mr Sharif was tried and convicted for hijacking and terrorism in the aftermath of the military coup that brought General Musharraf to power more than four years ago.

Javed Hashmi is the acting president of the party of Mr Sharif, who is currently living in exile in Saudi Arabia.

He was arrested more than three months ago, after he distributed copies of a letter written on the headed paper of Pakistan's military headquarters in which President Musharraf was severely criticised.

Mr Hashmi has claimed that it was an indication of the growing disaffection in the military against President Musharraf's policies.

Letter forged

But the indictment said the letter was a forged document and accused Mr Hashmi of inciting mutiny in the country's armed forces.

The letter criticised President Musharraf and his policies.

He was also charged with treason, defaming the armed forces and forgery.

Mr Hashmi has denied the charges and his lawyers say they plan to approach the superior court about the indictment, and the holding of the trial inside a jail.

The opposition grouping ARD has also rejected the charges and has described the trial as a mockery of the justice system.

The trial judge has set the date of 7 February for the prosecution to present its evidence.