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| Musharraf treason trial halted after explosives found | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The trial of Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has been postponed after explosives were found. | |
| Mr Musharraf was due to appear before a special court in Islamabad on Tuesday on treason charges, but the hearing will now take place on 1 January. | |
| On Monday, his petition that only a military court could examine his actions was rejected. | |
| The charges relate to his decision in 2007 to suspend the constitution and impose emergency rule. | |
| Mr Musharraf, who is on bail in several other cases, says all the accusations against him are politically motivated. | Mr Musharraf, who is on bail in several other cases, says all the accusations against him are politically motivated. |
| The 70-year-old also faces separate charges of murder and restricting the judiciary. | The 70-year-old also faces separate charges of murder and restricting the judiciary. |
| He is the first Pakistani former military ruler to face trial for treason. | He is the first Pakistani former military ruler to face trial for treason. |
| Mr Musharraf's lawyer, Anwar Mansoor, told the court on Tuesday that the trial could not go ahead because of a heightened security threat. | |
| Police said 5kg of explosives had been found along the route to the National Library, where the hearing is taking place. | |
| The court granted Mr Musharraf a one-time exemption from appearing, and ordered the court registrar to ensure he had safe transit on 1 January, where charges will be read to him, the BBC's Ilyas Khan at the trial reports. | |
| 'I will not run away' | 'I will not run away' |
| Mr Musharraf seized power in a military coup in 1999 and remained president until 2008 when a democratically elected government forced him to resign. | Mr Musharraf seized power in a military coup in 1999 and remained president until 2008 when a democratically elected government forced him to resign. |
| He went into exile soon afterwards. | He went into exile soon afterwards. |
| On Monday, Mr Musharraf's lawyers had argued - unsuccessfully - that as he was the army chief in 2007, only a military court had the authority to try him. | On Monday, Mr Musharraf's lawyers had argued - unsuccessfully - that as he was the army chief in 2007, only a military court had the authority to try him. |
| But Islamabad's high court rejected the petition. It also dismissed objections over the appointment of judges and prosecutor. | But Islamabad's high court rejected the petition. It also dismissed objections over the appointment of judges and prosecutor. |
| Mr Musharraf ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup. | Mr Musharraf ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup. |
| After his resignation in 2008 he left Pakistan to live in self-imposed exile in Dubai and London. | After his resignation in 2008 he left Pakistan to live in self-imposed exile in Dubai and London. |
| On his return in March he hoped he could lead his party into elections, but was disqualified from standing and found himself fighting an array of charges relating to his time in power. | On his return in March he hoped he could lead his party into elections, but was disqualified from standing and found himself fighting an array of charges relating to his time in power. |
| Speaking last week, he defended his actions during his nine-year rule. | Speaking last week, he defended his actions during his nine-year rule. |
| "Whatever I did was for the betterment and welfare of Pakistan and its people," he told Pakistan's private ARY television channel. | "Whatever I did was for the betterment and welfare of Pakistan and its people," he told Pakistan's private ARY television channel. |
| "I will face all cases... I will not run away." | "I will face all cases... I will not run away." |