Petition filed in LHC for Musharraf’s high treason trial

April 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr.24 (ANI): Yet another petition seeking registration of a high treason case against former President General Pervez Musharraf has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The petition filed by an advocate Ilamuddin Ghazi requested the court to register a case against Musharraf on 15 different counts.

The petition states that Musharraf had violated his oath as an army officer by acting against the country’s Constitution and leading a coup to topple a democratically elected government.

In his petition, Ghazi also urged the court to prosecute Musharraf for removing judges of the superior judiciary in November 2007 and announcing ‘emergency’ in the country.

Ghazi also accused the former general of ordering the registration of false cases and torturing lawyers, The Daily Times reports.

In his appeal he also blamed Musharraf for planning and executing the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and ordering the killing of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.

Ghazi requested the court to direct the federal government to lodge a case against Musharraf under the Article 6 of the Constitution. (ANI)

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Musharraf’s new political party closer to reality, but will he return?

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Mar.19 (ANI): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reportedly accepted former President General Pervez Musharraf’s application to register a new political party named-All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), thus clearing the road for Musharraf to return to the country for another political stint.

Sources privy to the development said Musharraf was trying hard to register the party through some of his loyalists in the country for quite some time, and has now finally succeeded.

Sources said the application filed by the ECP named some of the office-bearers of APML such as Barrister Saif as Chairman, Sher Alam Khattak as President, Chuadhry Abdul Ghafoor as Senior Vice President, and Rai Mulazam Hussain as Secretary General.

Commenting on the reports regarding Musharraf staging a comeback, Major General (retired) Rashid Qureshi, while confirming that Barrister Saif was serving as a legal advisor and spokesman of Musharraf, said the former premier has still not decided to join the newly floated party.

Qureshi said though Musharraf enjoys huge public support, he is unlikely to join the APML in the coming days.

“Musharraf has not yet decided to join the party and is waiting for right time to join Pakistani politics. There are 155,000 members of Pasdaran-e-Pakistan and 150,000 lovers on face book. Its shows how much popular he is in the masses,” The Nation quoted Qureshi, as saying.

Musharraf has himself made it clear on several occasions that he would return to Pakistan if the country needs him and if he garners sufficient support.

But with numerous pending cases against him in various courts across Pakistan and the opposition, particularly the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) pushing for his high treason trial, the former general’s return seems to be a distant dream.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said Musharraf might have initiated his return by launching a new party, but is highly unlikely that any prominent personality will join his force.

“I don’t think any politician worth the name will join the new party. But some of those who are neither here nor there in the political field may choose to align themselves with it just to be in the limelight,” Hussain had said a few days ago.

Even Musharraf’s confidants say there is no point in taking the risk of facing detention on return by the former president when the overall situation in Pakistan is hostile and unfavourable for him and there have been demands for his arrest and trial.
During a recent television interview, Tariq Aziz, once Musharraf’s right hand man and the former secretary of the National Security Council, said the his ‘boss’ will not return to Pakistan.

Aziz did not mention the time and period as to when Musharraf would return, but his statement confirmed that he would not board a flight to Islamabad unless the situation in Pakistan changes ‘radically’.

“It would be Musharraf’s own judgment to come back to Pakistan or stay abroad,’ said another Musharraf loyalist Mohammad Ali Durrani. (ANI)

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Musharraf ‘shedding crocodile tears’, says ex- Pak SCBA chief

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.19 (ANI): Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association’s former President Aitzaz Ahsan has said that former President General Pervez Musharraf is ‘shedding crocodile tears’ while admitting that removing Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry from office in 2007 was a mistake.

Referring to Musharraf’s speech at Trinity University in Saint Antonio, Texas, where the former general admitted that he had committed a mistake while sacking the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) from office, Ahsan said Musharraf had committed not only one but two mistakes by removing the higher judiciary and imposing an emergency in the country on November 3, 2007.

Talking to a private television channel, Ahsan said the government and the ‘independent’ judiciary should play their role in trying Musharraf under high treason charges.

He said it was not the right time for lawyers to take their struggle to roads, as they did previously while demanding restoration of the judiciary, The News reports.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has denied that Musharraf had taken the cabinet into his confidence before promulgating the Provisional Constitutional Ordinance (PCO) and imposing the emergency rule in 2007.

Interacting with media persons during an Iftaar party hosted by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, several party leaders rejected the notion regarding Musharraf consulting the cabinet before taking the illegal and extra-judicial actions. (ANI)

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Musharraf’s trial for treason ‘writing on the wall’: PML-N

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.18 (ANI): The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has said that former President General Pervez Musharraf’s trial under the high treason act is inevitable and warned the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government against putting the demand of the former general on the backburner.

Talking to media persons on the issue, PML-N’s central information secretary Ahsan Iqbal said : “Musharraf’s trial is the writing on the wall,” and added that the government should just initiate action the former general and leave the rest to the court of law.

Iqbal said all those who are trying to protect Musharraf would be considered ‘equal partners in crime’, and if the government continues its delaying tactics on the issue then people would take the matter into their hands as they did in the case of deposed judges.

“No one is authorized to pardon a person involved in heinous crimes,” The Dawn quoted Iqbal, as saying.

He also asked the government to clarify its stand regarding the US claims that it has given three billion dollars to Pakistan as aid since President Asif Ali Zardari took charge. (ANI)

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Musharraf may avoid noose but won’t be playing golf in Pak for long time: Editorial

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.16 (ANI): With President Asif Ali Zardari disclosing that his predecessor General Pervez Musharraf was given a ‘safe exit’ from the country, it appears, Musharraf may have avoided a high treason trial for his unconstitutional actions, but according to an editorial there is hardly any possibility of the former general returning to Pakistan in the near future.

The editorial in The Daily Times said Musharraf may be safe for the time being, but he would hardly be seen playing golf in Pakistan for years to come.

Referring to the Kargil debacle, the editorial termed Musharraf as a bad strategist, and alleged that the former general was rarely seen keeping his words during his autocratic rule.

“Neither was he a great strategist, as was proved by Kargil and his covert support of the Taliban; he was also no man of his word. He may be safe from the hangman’s noose but he will not be able to play golf in Pakistan for a long time,” the editorial said.

It also blasted the country’s political leaders for running to foreign powers for protecting their heads from ‘internal’ crises.

“Too proud to admit that there could be foreign stakeholders in Pakistan, a direct violation of state sovereignty, we can’t, however, deny that our politicians have leaned on foreign guarantors to save their careers and sometimes their lives,” the editorial said.

“Therefore, if President Zardari today absolves his party from the discomfiture of bringing Musharraf to trial, he knows that the PMLN leader Mr Nawaz Sharif too is riding in the same boat with him,” it went on to add.

However, the editorial lauded the Pakistan Army for refraining from getting involved in the demand for Musharraf’s trial, saying the armed forces, till now, had reacted sensibly.

“The one stakeholder in Pakistan that has acted less rashly than the politicians is the Pakistan Army. It has seen more clearly the risks that would have affected Pakistan’s security if the populist demand for Musharraf’s head had been met,” it concluded. (ANI)

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Musharraf may avoid noose but won’t be playing golf in Pak for long time: Editorial

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.16 (ANI): With President Asif Ali Zardari disclosing that his predecessor General Pervez Musharraf was given a ‘safe exit’ from the country, it appears, Musharraf may have avoided a high treason trial for his unconstitutional actions, but according to an editorial there is hardly any possibility of the former general returning to Pakistan in the near future.

The editorial in The Daily Times said Musharraf may be safe for the time being, but he would hardly be seen playing golf in Pakistan for years to come.

Referring to the Kargil debacle, the editorial termed Musharraf as a bad strategist, and alleged that the former general was rarely seen keeping his words during his autocratic rule.

“Neither was he a great strategist, as was proved by Kargil and his covert support of the Taliban; he was also no man of his word. He may be safe from the hangman’s noose but he will not be able to play golf in Pakistan for a long time,” the editorial said.

It also blasted the country’s political leaders for running to foreign powers for protecting their heads from ‘internal’ crises.

“Too proud to admit that there could be foreign stakeholders in Pakistan, a direct violation of state sovereignty, we can’t, however, deny that our politicians have leaned on foreign guarantors to save their careers and sometimes their lives,” the editorial said.

“Therefore, if President Zardari today absolves his party from the discomfiture of bringing Musharraf to trial, he knows that the PMLN leader Mr Nawaz Sharif too is riding in the same boat with him,” it went on to add.

However, the editorial lauded the Pakistan Army for refraining from getting involved in the demand for Musharraf’s trial, saying the armed forces, till now, had reacted sensibly.

“The one stakeholder in Pakistan that has acted less rashly than the politicians is the Pakistan Army. It has seen more clearly the risks that would have affected Pakistan’s security if the populist demand for Musharraf’s head had been met,” it concluded. (ANI)

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Musharraf resigned, left Pak under a covert deal: Mushahid

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Sep 14 (ANI): Former president Pervez Musharraf had resigned from office and left the country under a covert deal that ensured him safe passage, according to PML-Q General Secretary Mushahid Hussain.

A private TV channel quoted Mushahid as saying that Musharraf would not return to the country any time soon.

Earlier, Mushahid said that Musharraf had left the country after inking a deal with the present government under which it was agreed that he would not be prosecuted for high treason, and that one call from the Saudi Government would silence Musharraf’s trial seekers.

Speaking on a television chat show, Mushahid said only a single telephone call from Saudi Arabia would stop demands for Musharraf’s trial.

While ruling out any involvement of the Armed Forces in the present crisis, he said Musharraf’s trial under Article Six was impossible.

“The present system had no problem from the army or the Inter-Services Intelligence or any so-called secret agencies,” The Daily Times quoted him, as saying. (ANI)

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Musharraf’s trial seekers should act rather than rant: PML-Q

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Sep.12 (ANI): The Pakistan Muslim League -Quaid (PML-Q) has said that all those people who want former President General Pervez Musharraf to be tried for high treason should come forward and take steps regarding the trial instead of just issuing statements.

“People who want to put former President Pervez Musharraf on trial must come forward and do so because the time had come for taking practical steps rather than just debating on the thorny issue,”The Dawn quoted PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain, as saying.

“Every one will be silent on one phone call from Saudi Arabia,” Hussain added.

He came down on the current Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government saying the country was being “run by plunderers and looters of sugar, cement and flour.”

Hussain stressed that PML-Q is the real opposition party as it was founded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. (ANI)

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Saudi Arabia’s ‘love’ for Nawaz Sharif lost?

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.12 (ANI): Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not receive the same ‘red carpet’ welcome and the protocol that he used to enjoy earlier, during his recent Saudi Arabia visit.

According to sources, Sharif’s refusal to tone down his demand for former President General Pervez Musharraf’s high treason trial is believed to the prime reason behind Riyadh’s luke warm response.

Insiders said Sharif did not receive the same protocol when he arrived at Riyadh for a religious visit earlier this week, however, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has rejected any reduction in Saudi’s love for Sharif.

“Whenever any Pakistani leader visits Saudi Arabia specifically for worship, routine protocol is not given. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif regularly visits Saudi Arabia in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan and in the past on every such occasion, he was given the same protocol as he was given during the current visit,” PML-N spokesman Pervaiz Rasheed said.

Sources said Sharif is under tremendous pressure from Saudi Arabia to shun his demand for Musharraf’s trial under the Article Six of the Constitution. (ANI)

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Musharraf to use secret ‘smoking gun’ on Nawaz, Benazir if cornered

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep.11 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf possess some secret records regarding Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and may make them public if the PML-N and PPP push further for his high treason trial.

Sources close to the former general, who may ‘formally’ join politics in December, say that he may take the veil off the records if both the parties continues to target him.

According to them, Musharraf, before vacating the Presidency had collected some important documents and records.

It is believed that the documents contained his deal with the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif before the latter’s departure to Saudi Arabia, tapes of telephonic conversation between Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, and other ‘secret’ documents.

Meanwhile, the PPP leadership has reportedly told Musharraf that the party has no intention to take action against him, The Dawn reports. (ANI)

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We will oppose any action against Musharraf : PML-Q

September 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep.8 (ANI): Lending its full support to former President General Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) PML-Q has decided to oppose any action against the former general under Article-Six of the Constitution.

According to The Dawn, the Chaudhry brothers have sent a message to Musharraf through their messenger that they will stand by him in all circumstances.

Sources said Ameer Muqaam and Khusro Bakhtiar, who are considered Musharraf’s close aides, met the former president in London recently and discussed various issues regarding Pakistan’s political scenario.

“Amir Muqaam gave a clear message to the former president that no action will be taken against him at any forum including Parliament,” Dawn quoted sources, as saying.

Sources said Musharraf is in constant touch with the leaders of PML-Q’s ‘like minded group’ and is holding meetings with them from time to time to get the first hand information regarding proceedings being initiated against him by different political quarters, particularly the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Meanwhile, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that the Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) stance on Musharraf’s trial was clear.

Kaira said if the PML-N wants to table a resolution in the National Assembly for Musharraf’s high treason trial, then it is free do so as it was within its right.

He said the PML-N has a right to demand Musharraf’s trial.

He, however, said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the PPP has time and again expressed its views over the trial debate and they are firm on their stand.

“The PPP has to take along its allied parties. We have to take their viewpoints into account also,” Kaira said. (ANI)

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Sharif likely to visit Saudi Arabia next week

September 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.6 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif is likely to visit Saudi Arabia next week to meet King Shah Abdullah, sources said.

According to sources, Sharif is likely to reach Riyadh on September 11 to hold talks with King Abdullah and Saudi Intelligence chief Shahzada Muqran.

Sharif’s Saudi visit is being seen in connection with the former President Pervez Musharraf’s recent talks with King Abdullah, in which he (Musharraf) is believed to have urged the Saudi authorities to direct the Pakistan government and various political quarters, particularly the PML-N, to stop persuading for his high treason trial.

“The policy of the PML-N, with regard to the trial of Musharraf, is likely to change after the former premier’s visit to Saudi Arabia,” The Dawn quoted sources, as saying.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Zaheer has criticised the Sharif brothers for involving Saudi Arabia in the country’s internal affairs.

Zaheer said it was the Sharifs’ who had first started to seek Riyadh’s help in resolving internal political matters. (ANI)

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Musharraf must be prosecuted to end Army’s interference in country’s politics: Sharif

September 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Sep.5 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said that prosecuting former President General Pervez Musharraf under high treason charges for taking ‘extrajudicial’ actions on November 3, 2007 would help resolve all crises facing the country currently.

Interacting with party workers at his Raiwind residence, Sharif said trying Musharraf would ensure that the door to military interference in the country’s politics would be closed for good.

“Today’s Constitutional crisis is the result of the military coup on October 12, 1999,” The News quoted Sharif, as saying.

“If common people and former prime ministers can face trials then why a military dictator, who violated the Constitution twice, should not be prosecuted?” the former Prime Minister asked.

Meanwhile, senior PML-N leader Ghous Ali Shah has rebutted reports regarding Sharif being involved in the ‘secret’ deal which saw Musharraf stepping down from the Presidency.

Shah said if Musharraf is not prosecuted under Article Six of the Constitution, then it will have a serious effect on the country’s democratic set-up.

“A military dictator contested elections in uniform with the permission of the courts and abrogated the constitution twice but if he was pardoned, then democracy would never consolidate,” Shah said.

He said the current infighting between the PML-N and MQM was temporary and situation would normalize soon.

“Nothing is final in politics and doors are not closed. Situation and time compel parties to talk to each other,” Shah added. (ANI)

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PPP has not given any ‘guarantee’ regarding Musharraf indemnity: Kaira

September 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.4 (ANI): Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has rebutted reports regarding Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) giving assurance not to prosecute former President General Pervez Musharraf on high treason charges.

Kaira said the PPP has not given any ‘guarantee’ to any country regarding clemency to Musharraf.

“Though friendly countries generally give advice on various matters but it is not binding on the government,” Kaira said.

In an interview with The Nation, he categorically rejected media reports that Musharraf’s step down was pre-planned and a part of a ‘secret’ arrangement.

“PPP had expelled Musharraf from Aiwan-e-Sadr with the support of masses,” he stressed.

When asked about Interior Advisor, Rehman Malik’s visit to Saudi Arabia, just before Musharraf’s meeting with king Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Kaira said it was a routine affair and it had nothing to do with the Musharraf issue.

Kaira also denied presence of US Blackwater on Pakistani soil, saying Islamabad would never allow any private security agency to operate inside country’s territory.

“Some personnel of private security agencies of the US after taking clearance by the government are protecting the NATO trucks which transport supplies from Port Qasim to Afghanistan and nothing else,” he said.

“As the US is leading war against terror therefore its facilities and staff are more prone to terror attacks than other countries therefore they need more security to protect themselves,” he added. (ANI)

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PPP, PML-N reconciliation efforts hit hard by ‘smear Sharif’ campaign

September 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.4 (ANI): The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) do not share a cordial relationship, and the recent brickbatting between the two parties, has further dented chances of a reconciliation between them.

Due to the latest round of infighting between the PML-N and PPP chances of talks between President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has virtually become ‘nonexistent’.

It is evident that Zardari and Sharif can not stand each other, and the latest controversy regarding the Sharif smearing campaign has further soured the relations between the two leaders.

PML-N insiders said party leaders believe the vilification drive started fading fast when they directly attacked the ‘sponsors’ of the campaign, i.e. the Presidency.

“The PML-N is now satisfied that its aggressive response to lies and half truths, spread day in and day out for over a week, did the trick of putting the sponsors of the campaign on the back foot.They were left with no option but to clarify their own positions,” The News quoted a PML-N leader, as saying.

The PML-N believes the campaign was an effort to distract public attention from the actual issues like Musharraf’s trial on high treason charges and undoing the 17th Amendment.

While efforts were made for reconciliation between the two parties when Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif asking him to control the situation, but it is apparent that hatred is smearing inside both the rival political parties.

“This short spell of intense war of words exposed the acrimony, mistrust and misunderstanding existing deep down between the two major political parties, the PPP and the PML-N,” a PML-N leader said. (ANI)

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Outcome of Musharraf’s ‘successful’ Saudi visit to be revealed soon: Qureshi

September 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Sep.4 (ANI): Former Pakistan Presidency spokesperson Rashid Qureshi has said former President General Pervez Musharraf’s meeting with Saudi King Abdullah has been ‘successful’, and the outcome of the talks between the two leaders will surface after some days.

Qureshi, who was Musharraf’s spokesman during his regime, rebutted reports that the former Army General had visited Riyadh to request the Saudi authorities to direct Islamabad to not to pursue high treason charges against him.

He said Musharraf visited Saudi Arabia on an invitation by the king.

Qureshi also rejected a reports carried by a leading Pakistani daily that Musharraf’s Saudi visit has turned out to be a fiasco since he failed in persuading the Saudi authorities to secure clemency from his detractors in Pakistan.

The report claimed that Saudi authorities have advised Musharraf to seek pardon and tender an unconditional apology for his unconstitutional acts directly from the people who had to suffer due to his actions during his regime.

Qureshi termed the report as ‘false and inappropriate’ and said truth regarding Musahrraf’s visit would be out soon. (ANI)

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Musharraf’s trial would result in unmitigated chaos in Pak: Report

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Sep.3 (ANI): While the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Pakistan in under immense pressure to try former President General Pervez Musharraf under high treason charges for his ‘extrajudicial’ actions on November 3,2007, observers believe that the former general’s trial would create further problems in the troubled country.

Pakistan’s failure to act against Musharraf has cast doubts on Islamabad’s prospects for establishing an independent judiciary, however, charging him would cause major instability in the country, a Christian Science Monitor report said.

If the Supreme Court decides to pursue a high treason case against Musharraf, then it could have far reaching effect on Pakistan’s internal politics, it said.

Musharraf’s trial would certainly see demands from different quarters to prosecute several other high profile politicians and other prominent personalities of the country as well.

Many of those who are pushing for Musharraf to stand trial are themselves guilty of either committing unconstitutional acts or abetting them like former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, it added.

The report said that there are plenty of persons who can be tried if the October5, 2007, National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) was overturned.

The NRO immunizes all government officials who served between January 1, 1986, and October 12, 1999, when Musharraf led a coup to dethrone Nawaz Sharif and attain power.

The report said that in order to avoid massive trouble in the country, the parliament should declare that the past is the past, and proceed with a firm resolve to punish any subsequent government criminality.

Parliament should send a strong message of neutrality by avoiding the double standard of prosecuting one guilty party but not the others, the report added.

But the real test of Pakistan’s democratic capability will be whether it can set up a system of checks and balances to sustain that principle, it concluded. (ANI)

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“Optimistic” Musharraf leaves for London in ‘high spirits’ after Saudi visit

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Riyadh, Sep.3 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has returned to London after his three day visit to Saudi Arabia, and it seems his tour has yielded the desired results.

Musharraf, who had a long one to one talk with King Abdullah amid speculations of yet another Saudi-backed political arrangement in Pakistan, was in ‘high spirits’ after the meeting, sources said.

While the details of the meeting are still behind curtains, sources privy to the developments said Musharraf would disclose his future course of action only after returning to London, but as it transpires Musharraf has succeeded in his aim to ensure a safe return to Pakistan without any fears of being tried for high treason under Article Six of the Constitution.

“Musharraf was in ‘high spirits’. His body language was ‘positive’ and he sounded ‘very optimistic’,” The Dawn quoted sources close to the former general, as saying.

It is worth mentioning here that Musharraf had resigned from the Presidency last year, following an agreement in which Saudi Arabia was one of the guarantors.

The accord says that Musharraf would not be tried in any court. The US and Britain are believed to be the other two guarantors of the agreement, which has been kept secret.

While the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is pushing for Musharraf’s trial under high treason charges, observers believe that it would be naïve to think that PML-N chief and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is unaware about the agreement.

Sources also revealed Sharif may visit Riyadh next week where he is likely to meet King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. He will also have meetings with some other Saudi leaders including Prince Mukrin, chief of the Saudi Intelligence Agency. (ANI)

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Nation would seek mid-term polls if govt. fails to prosecute Musharraf : PML-N leader

September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.2 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Zafar Ali Shah has said the whole nation would demand mid-term term elections if the PPP-led government fails to try former President General Pervez Musharraf under Article Six of the Constitution.

Criticising the Gilani government for not taking any substantial action against Musharraf, Shah said he would again move a petition seeking Musharraf’s trial in the Supreme Court.

“I would again submit a petition seeking a Supreme Court ruling for the government to initiate criminal proceedings against Musharraf for high treason,” The Daily Times quoted Shah, as saying.

Shah, however, said that he had filed the petition earlier in his personal capacity and his party (PML-N) has nothing to do with it.

Meanwhile, PML-N Senior Vice President Javed Hashmi ruled out any possibility of mid-term polls in the country.

Hashmi said the PML-N respects people’s mandate and supports President Asif Ali Zardari.

“We will not support any move for mid-term elections and our party has always given due respect to President Zardari and his party’s mandate,” Hashmi said.

He termed the minus-one formula as the ‘approach of a sick mind’.

When asked about Zafar Ali Shah’s views, he said it was his personal opinion to demand for mid-term elections. (ANI)

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One call from Saudi Arabia would seal Musharraf trial seekers’ mouth: PML-Q

September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Sep.2 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that former President General Pervez Musharraf had left the country after inking a deal with the present government regarding not being prosecuted under high treason charges, and that one call from Saudi government would silence Musharraf’s trial seekers.

Speaking on a television chat show, Sayed said only a single telephone call from Saudi Arabia would stop demands for Musharraf’s trial.

While ruling out any involvement of the Armed Forces in the present crisis, he said Musharraf’s trial under Article Six was impossible.

“The present system had no problem from the army or the Inter-Services Intelligence or any so-called secret agencies,” The Daily Times quoted Sayed, as saying.

Commenting on the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s threat to hold a long march demanding Musharraf’s trial, he said Pakistan could ill-afford midterm elections or long marches against the ‘democratic’ government.

Sayed said the country’s leadership should have the courage to decisions on their own rather than depending upon calls from British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Miliband or US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke. (ANI)

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