A Pakistani court has rejected former president and military chief Pervez Musharraf's plea to have his trial heard in a military court. The court ruled on Friday that a three-member special court does have the jurisdiction to put him on trial for contravening the constitution.
Musharraf's lawyers earlier insisted that their client had imposed emergency rule when he was the army chief and only a military court has the authority to try him.
The ruling says that Musharraf is now retired and the military act was declared null and void in 1981.
The special court summoned Musharraf to appear on March 11. If found guilty, Musharraf could either face death penalty or life imprisonment under Pakistani laws.
He is also facing charges relating to three other high-profile cases, including the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
