A Pakistani court trying former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for treason has rejected his plea to send his case to a military court and set March 11 as the date to indict him.
Lawyers for the 70-year-old Musharraf had challenged the right of a civilian court in Islamabad to try the former army chief.
The three-judge bench ruled that Musharraf was no longer in the army and that high treason can be tried exclusively in a special court.
Musharraf could face the death penalty if convicted.
The case is seen as a test of civilian rule over the country's powerful army.
The case against Musharraf relates to his decision in 2007 to declare a state of emergency and detain several judges.
Lawyers for the 70-year-old Musharraf had challenged the right of a civilian court in Islamabad to try the former army chief.
The three-judge bench ruled that Musharraf was no longer in the army and that high treason can be tried exclusively in a special court.
Musharraf could face the death penalty if convicted.
The case is seen as a test of civilian rule over the country's powerful army.
The case against Musharraf relates to his decision in 2007 to declare a state of emergency and detain several judges.