Islamabad, Dec 13 (IANS)

A special tribunal Friday issued summons to former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf on charges of high treason.

Musharraf, who is charged with treason for suspending the country's constitution when he imposed emergency rule in 2007, was summoned to appear before the court Dec 24, Xinhua reported.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last month approved the selection of three judges for the special court to try the former military ruler.

Musharraf took over in a bloodless coup when he dismissed the government of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999.

It is the first time in Pakistan's 66-year history that a former military leader will be tried for high treason.

In June, Sharif announced high treason trial of Musharraf in his speech to the National Assembly or lower house of parliament less than three weeks after returning to power following his PML-N party's victory in the general elections.

The 69-year-old former army chief stays at his farmhouse in Islamabad after he got bail in three high profile cases, including the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Musharraf, who had gone into exile in 2008, returned to the country in March this year to take part in parliamentary elections in May. However, a court disqualified him from contesting the polls.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan earlier said Musharraf cannot leave the country as his name was included in the list of those who are barred from going abroad.