Pakistan to try Musharraf for treason, interior minister says

Pakistan on Sunday announced plans to put former military leader General Pervez Musharraf on trial for treason for imposing emergency rule in 2007.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told The Associated Press he planned to send the Supreme Court a letter on Monday asking that treason proceedings begin.

More from GlobalPost: Pakistan re-arrests Musharraf over Red Mosque raid

"Following the judgement of the Supreme Court and a report submitted by an inquiry committee, it has been decided to start proceedings against General Pervez Musharraf (for treason) under Article 6 of the Constitution," Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said during a live press conference.

"It is happening for the first time in the history of Pakistan and the decision has been taken in the national interest," he said.

Musharraf is already facing four major criminal cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, including one related to the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007.

More from GlobalPost: Pakistan plans to try Pervez Musharraf for treason

He seized power in a 1999 coup but was forced into exile nine years later after a showdown with the judiciary. He returned to Pakistan this year to contest May elections but was barred from standing by a flurry of court cases.

Musharraf was arrested on charges related to a 2007 raid on a radical mosque last month.

Last week he asked a court to let him leave the country to visit his sick mother in Dubai. A ruling on that request was also scheduled for Monday.