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| Security Scare Delays Musharraf’s Trial for Treason in Pakistan | Security Scare Delays Musharraf’s Trial for Treason in Pakistan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — For the second time since treason proceedings were opened against him, Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf failed to appear before judges, after explosives were again found along his route to a hearing on Wednesday. | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — For the second time since treason proceedings were opened against him, Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf failed to appear before judges, after explosives were again found along his route to a hearing on Wednesday. |
| Security officials discovered around two pounds of explosives just a mile from Mr. Musharraf’s farmhouse in the suburbs of Islamabad, the Pakistani capital. A hearing on Dec. 24 was also adjourned after the police found explosives and handguns near the former ruler’s residence. | Security officials discovered around two pounds of explosives just a mile from Mr. Musharraf’s farmhouse in the suburbs of Islamabad, the Pakistani capital. A hearing on Dec. 24 was also adjourned after the police found explosives and handguns near the former ruler’s residence. |
| Citing security concerns, Mr. Musharraf’s lawyers asked the special court for a five-week adjournment, but Justice Faisal Arab, who is heading the three-member judicial panel, ordered Islamabad police officials to ensure that Mr. Musharraf appears before the court on Thursday. | Citing security concerns, Mr. Musharraf’s lawyers asked the special court for a five-week adjournment, but Justice Faisal Arab, who is heading the three-member judicial panel, ordered Islamabad police officials to ensure that Mr. Musharraf appears before the court on Thursday. |
| Justice Arab warned that Mr. Musharraf could face arrest if he failed to appear at the hearing, at which he is expected to be indicted on treason charges. | Justice Arab warned that Mr. Musharraf could face arrest if he failed to appear at the hearing, at which he is expected to be indicted on treason charges. |
| Later, Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, claimed in an appearance on Capital Talk, one of the country’s most popular television talk shows, that explosives were being planted by “sympathizers” of Mr. Musharraf to try to derail the trial. | |
| “People bought by Musharraf with money are behind this,” Mr. Asif said in the talk show that was broadcast live Wednesday evening. And he suggested that Mr. Musharraf was doling out funds he had accumulated while in power to secure new political support. | |
| Mr. Musharraf, 70, who seized power in a military coup in 1999 and ruled until he was forced to resign in 2008, is accused of subverting the Constitution when he imposed emergency rule in November 2007. | Mr. Musharraf, 70, who seized power in a military coup in 1999 and ruled until he was forced to resign in 2008, is accused of subverting the Constitution when he imposed emergency rule in November 2007. |
| He has denied the charge, calling the trial a political vendetta. Mr. Musharraf, a former general, has also challenged the legality of the court and said that he should be tried in a military, not civilian, court. | He has denied the charge, calling the trial a political vendetta. Mr. Musharraf, a former general, has also challenged the legality of the court and said that he should be tried in a military, not civilian, court. |
| Since last week, Mr. Musharraf has gone on a media offensive, giving interviews to local and international news outlets and pleading his case before the public. He has also hinted that the country’s powerful military is upset over his treatment — despite silence from the current military leadership. | Since last week, Mr. Musharraf has gone on a media offensive, giving interviews to local and international news outlets and pleading his case before the public. He has also hinted that the country’s powerful military is upset over his treatment — despite silence from the current military leadership. |
| The treason proceedings are unprecedented. Powerful generals have largely avoided prosecution and the trial has fueled fears of a confrontation between the civilian and the military leadership. | The treason proceedings are unprecedented. Powerful generals have largely avoided prosecution and the trial has fueled fears of a confrontation between the civilian and the military leadership. |
| Before the hearing on Wednesday was adjourned, prosecutors and Mr. Musharraf’s lawyers clashed. | Before the hearing on Wednesday was adjourned, prosecutors and Mr. Musharraf’s lawyers clashed. |
| Ahmad Raza Khan Qasuri, a lawyer for Mr. Musharraf known for his bombastic outbursts, compared the special court to Shakespearean theater. And he said his client faced grave dangers from Islamist militants and political enemies and should be exempted from appearing in person. | Ahmad Raza Khan Qasuri, a lawyer for Mr. Musharraf known for his bombastic outbursts, compared the special court to Shakespearean theater. And he said his client faced grave dangers from Islamist militants and political enemies and should be exempted from appearing in person. |
| “The court can come under question if some harm is done to Musharraf,” Mr. Qasuri said. Even the judges could become targets of militants, Mr. Qasuri added. | “The court can come under question if some harm is done to Musharraf,” Mr. Qasuri said. Even the judges could become targets of militants, Mr. Qasuri added. |
| However, Justice Arab dismissed Mr. Qasuri’s arguments and said courts function even in wartime. Jan Muhammad, a senior Islamabad police official, told the court that 1,000 police officials had been deployed to provide security for Mr. Musharraf’s convoy. | However, Justice Arab dismissed Mr. Qasuri’s arguments and said courts function even in wartime. Jan Muhammad, a senior Islamabad police official, told the court that 1,000 police officials had been deployed to provide security for Mr. Musharraf’s convoy. |