Musharraf treason case dismissed

A court in Pakistan has thrown out an attempt to have President General Pervez Musharraf tried on charges of high treason.

Musharraf: At loggerheads with parliament

The petition alleged that General Musharraf was in violation of the constitution because he simultaneously held two offices - that of president and chief of army staff.

The offence, if proven, is punishable by death.

But the Lahore High Court threw out the petition, saying it lacked the authority to hear the case.

General Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999.

Pakistan's Supreme Court upheld the move, but ordered him to hold elections to return the country to civilian rule within three years.

They just half-heartedly announced the judgment... They did not give grounds to substantiate the judgment

AK Dogar
Pakistan Lawyers' Forum

General elections took place in October, but General Musharraf remains president and head of the powerful army.

He also has awarded himself powers to sack the prime minister and parliament.

Media ban

AK Dogar, the president of the Pakistan Lawyers' Forum, brought the petition against General Musharraf.

He argued that holding both posts contravened Pakistan's constitution.

Punjab Chief Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry and Justice Akhtar Shabbir dismissed the petition after a four-hour hearing.

A spokesman for the Lahore High Court told journalists they had done so in the light of constitutional protection provided to senior government functionaries.

Reporters were not allowed in court to listen to proceedings.

Mr Dogar said he had not had a fair hearing.

"They did not allow me to complete my arguments," he told reporters outside the court.

"They just half-heartedly announced the judgment... They did not give grounds to substantiate the judgment."