Pakistan police in Musharraf move

Mr Musharraf argues his actions were necessary to combat militancy

Police in Pakistan have formally filed a case against former president Pervez Musharraf for illegally detaining senior judges in 2007.

The police move follows a court ruling on Monday ordering them to take action against the former president.

Mr Musharraf is accused of putting senior judges under illegal house arrest after imposing emergency rule.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the move was invalid and unconstitutional.

Mr Musharraf resigned a year ago to avoid impeachment and is now living in Britain.

Possibility of prosecution

"We have registered a case against Pervez Musharraf under Pakistan's Penal Code," news agency AFP quoted police spokesman Hakim Khan as saying.

The BBC's Haroon Rashid in Islamabad says that the possibility of prosecution means that the chances of the former president returning to Pakistan in the short term look slim.

Mr Musharraf faces a three year sentence in jail for his move to detain senior judges, our correspondent adds.

His move to impose emergency rule also clears the way for him to be tried for treason because under the constitution, anyone found guilty of abrogating it can be prosecuted.

However, the Supreme Court made it clear in July that parliament was the best place to debate whether or not Mr Musharraf should face treason charges.

President Musharraf sacked judges who refused to take an oath of loyalty under the 3 November 2007 emergency rule.

They have since been reinstated. Among them is Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

His suspension started the protest movement that ended with Mr Musharraf being driven from office.

He eventually had to end emergency rule and hold general elections which led to the defeat of his political allies in February 2008.

Mr Musharraf was finally forced to resign in August 2008. He has argued that his actions were necessary to combat militancy.