Summary Former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf arrested and presented before court.
ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has been arrested by the police in Islamabad from his farmhouse. Mr Musharraf had been closeted in the farmhouse since yesterday when the High Court cancelled his bail plea in a case related to the dismissal of judges when he was Pakistan s president.
As soon as the court ordered his arrest, the former military ruler walked out of the High Court, jumped into his waiting black SUV and sped off to his villa, protected by barbed wire and armed police. He faced no resistance from scores of law enforcement agents as he left the court.
His office had denied media reports that he had "fled" the courthouse to evade arrest. General Musharraf s lawyers will appeal against the High Court order in the Supreme Court today.
The Supreme Court is already hearing a separate petition from lawyers demanding that General Musharraf face trial for treason for subverting the constitution by imposing emergency. Treason is punishable by death or life in prison in Pakistan.
General Musharraf is also accused of conspiracy to murder Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and over the death of a rebel leader during a military operation in 2006.
Earlier this week, he was disqualified from running for parliament on all four seats that he had sought to contest, ending his hopes of a political comeback. Pakistan will vote on May 11.
