Pakistan: Former leader Musharraf must face accountability for all crimes

Responding to today’s conviction and sentencing to death of former Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, Omar Waraich, Amnesty International’s Deputy South Asia Director, said:

“General Pervez Musharraf and the government he led must be held to account for all human rights violations committed during their time in office - not just a select few.

“This includes extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary detentions, deaths in custody, unlawful killings and other serious human rights violations committed against the political opposition, human rights defenders, members of civil society and suspected members of armed groups.

“No one is above the law, and it is encouraging to see Pakistan break with a history of impunity for powerful generals. At the same time, it is crucial that he receives a fair trial without recourse to the death penalty." 

Guilty of ‘high treason’

General Pervez Musharraf was today convicted of ‘high treason’ and sentenced to death for suspending the constitution when he imposed a state of emergency in Pakistan in November 2007.

During his nearly nine-year rule, Amnesty documented widespread human rights violations conducted by Pakistan’s security forces, including the killing, enforced disappearance and torture of members of armed groups, political activists and human rights defenders.