Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has been formally indicted for high treason.
On March 31, Musharraf pleaded "not guilty" to each of the five charges read against him by a special tribunal in Islamabad.
The three-member tribunal had ordered Musharraf to be arrested if he failed to show up for the hearing.
The arrest order was issued after Musharraf failed to appear at several earlier hearings since his trial began last December – setting back the formal judicial process.
The treason case has prompted fears of a clash between Pakistan's civilian administration and its powerful military.
The charges stem from Musharraf's 2007 decision to declare a state of emergency and fire judges.
Musharraf stepped down from power in 2008.
Last year, he returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile to run in elections but immediately faced legal charges.
On March 31, Musharraf pleaded "not guilty" to each of the five charges read against him by a special tribunal in Islamabad.
The three-member tribunal had ordered Musharraf to be arrested if he failed to show up for the hearing.
The arrest order was issued after Musharraf failed to appear at several earlier hearings since his trial began last December – setting back the formal judicial process.
The treason case has prompted fears of a clash between Pakistan's civilian administration and its powerful military.
The charges stem from Musharraf's 2007 decision to declare a state of emergency and fire judges.
Musharraf stepped down from power in 2008.
Last year, he returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile to run in elections but immediately faced legal charges.
