Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf pleaded not guilty to five counts of treason in a special court in Pakistan's capital on Monday, NBC News reported.
"I prefer death to surrender," he said after pleading not guilty to five charges of extra-constitutional and illegal actions against the state. "I would like to ask where is the justice for me in the Islamic republic of Pakistan. I have only given to this country and not taken anything."
In the latest chapter of a long-running drama between the increasingly assertive judiciary and its former military ruler, Musharraf was finally indicted on charges of treason, Reuters reported.
Hoping to extend his rule as president in 2007, Musharraf had suspended the constitution and imposed an emergency rule. If convicted on these charges, he faces death penalty.
"Musharraf said his attempts to extend his rule were made in consultation with the cabinet and agreed to by the government. None of them is on trial with him, he pointed out," Reuters reported.
"I have served the country as army chief for nine years honestly, gave 44 years of life to the army, is this a reward for loyalty?" he said.
Although the former president is under house arrest, his lawyer asked permission for Musharraf to visit his sick mother in Dubai.
"His mother is dying, for god's sake," Farough Naseem said. "She is 94 and very ill."
According to Reuters, "But the court said it did not have the power to remove Musharraf's name from a federal government list of people prohibited from leaving the country."
Musharraf told the court that he defined a "traitor" as one "who gives away national secrets to enemy and surrenders before the enemy," NBC News reported.
In addition to security concerns, Musharraf's court hearings have been postponed four times due to claims of poor health.
While his lawyers have confirmed receiving death threats, Musharraf failed to appear in court during the formal proceedings. However, he did manage to attend a pre-trial hearing.
