Pervez Musharraf says Pakistan army firmly behind him against 'vendetta' treason case

Pakistan's former President General Pervez Musharraf has denounced treason charges against him as a “vendetta”, saying that he had the backing of the country's powerful army.

The 70-year-old said that the whole army was upset with the treason allegations against him, Dawn News reports.

Musharraf said that the way the special tribunal was formed, which involved the prime minister and the ex-chief justice, this itself smacks a little bit of a vendetta.

The former military ruler is facing five charges against him for imposition of emergency rule in November 2007, and if found guilty he could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.

An initial hearing in the case, being heard by a special tribunal, was halted on December 24 after explosives were found along the route Musharraf was to take to court, the report added.

The case is due to resume on January 1, but Musharraf said he had not yet decided whether he would attend the hearing.