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 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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Sharif will not demand Musharraf’s trial: Saudi king assures former Pak Prez

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Sep 14 (ANI): Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has assured former president Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif will not demand a treason trial for him under Article 6 of the constitution.

Musharraf said he would demand that all the judges of the superior judiciary who had approved his steps also be tried for treason if the government charged him with sedition.

He said the country’s national interest would have been compromised if he had not sided with the US in the war on terror after 9/11, the Daily Times reports.

Replying to a question, the former president said it was wrong to assume he had forced Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan to apologise for distributing nuclear secrets.

He said Pakistan must fight and eradicate the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Musharraf said the present government was following the same strategic policies with regards to the US that his government had pursued, adding there were only minor differences in the modalities of official dealings.

He said the military aid given to Pakistan for the war on terror had also been used to strengthen Pakistan’s defence against India. (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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Saudi King warns Pak to call off Musharraf ‘witch hunt’

September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Sep.2 (ANI): Expressing concern over the political brickbatting between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the trial of former President General Pervez Musharraf, Saudi Arabia has asked the Pakistani leadership to abide by the agreement on Musharraf’s immunity from prosecution, and stop the infighting, saying it could further deteriorate the country’s situation.

Sources privy to the Saudi Royal family said Saudi King, Abdullah, told Interior Advisor Rehman Malik, that Musharraf’s trial and altercations between the PPP and the PML-N could further affect Pakistan’s political stability.

According to a private television, the Saudi King has assured Musharraf that no action would be taken against him by the Pakistani leadership.

The king had said if a political party or any individual demanded his (Musharraf) trial, then it could have serious implications on Pak-Saudi relations.

Sources said that former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be visiting Saudi Arabia next week to hold meetings with Saudi officials, who may force him to abide by the agreement.

Meanwhile, Musharraf, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, met the Saudi intelligence chief to discuss the issue relating to his high treason trial, The Daily Times reports.

It may be noted that the Saudi intelligence chief was the main facilitator of Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan. (ANI)

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PML-N’s abrupt U-turn on trying Gen Kayani for ‘high treason’

September 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Aug.31 (ANI): A day after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif’s spokesman Zaeem Qadri said that Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani should also be prosecuted under high treason charges along with former President General Pervez Musharraf, the party has denied General Kayani’s involvement in imposition of emergency rule on November 3, 2007.

PML-N spokesman Siddiq-ul Farooq said Musharraf had imposed emergency rule with the help of a few police officials, and did not take General Kayani into confidence.

Farroq said neither the military top brass, nor the then Prime Minister was taken into confidence by Musharraf, The Dawn reports.

PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal also said that the former Army Chief was exclusively responsible for the imposition of emergency.

Iqbal also rejected reports that PML-N was involved in secret talks with Musharraf, and was preparing a ‘great deal’ to help him escape the high treason trial under Article six of the Constitution.

It may be recalled that Sharif’s spokesperson had said that the party wanted the trial of former President General Pervez Musharraf and all his close aides for supporting his unconstitutional actions.

When asked whether that means trying the present Chief of Army Staffs (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani too, Qadri said General Kayani also fell under the category of Musharraf’s close aides. (ANI)

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Is Musharraf working on a ‘face saving’ deal with PML-N ?

August 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Aug.30 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf may strike a deal with the Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) to escape the high treason trial under Article Six of the Constitution.

According to sources close to Musharraf, the former Army Chief is trying to seal a pact with the PML-N under which he would formalize his exile in Britain and stay ‘quiet’ for at least 10 years. In return, the PML-N and other political forces would not pursue the demand for his trial and arrest for the extra judicial orders passed by him on November 3, 2007.

The pact would also require Musharraf, who is currently in London, not to poke his nose into Pakistan’s domestic politics and return to a completely retired life.

Sources added that Musharraf is likely to seek asylum in Britain, if cases are registered and pursued against him by various parties.

“If the former President is booked on charges carrying the death penalty, he would be entitled to seek asylum,” they said.

The deal is likely to be finalized in a couple weeks.

“Interlocutors of the new ‘great deal’ are keeping the details and mode of interaction close to their chest but the understanding is likely to be finalised in a couple of weeks,” The News quoted sources, as saying.

Sources said Musharraf is disappointed by the reactions of his former aides and different political parties, as none of the country’s political stalwart has come forward and to assist him to fight his case in the court. (ANI)

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PML-N demands Kayani’s high treason trial

August 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Aug.30 (ANI): The Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) has now demanded trial of Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani under the Article Six of the Constitution.

In an interview with a private television, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s spokesman Zaeem Qadri said the party wants trial of former President General Pervez Musharraf and his close aides for supporting his unconstitutional actions.

When asked whether that means trying the present Chief of Army Staffs (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani too, Qadri said General Kayani also fell under the category of Musharraf’s close aides.

“He (Kayani) had also seconded Musharraf’s actions in his capacity as the ISI chief,” The Daily Times quoted Qadri, as saying. (ANI)

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Gilani rules out Musharraf’s high treason trial

August 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Aug.20 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has virtually ruled out the trial of former President General Pervez Musharraf for high treason, saying such step a could trigger political imbalance in the country.

Responding to opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s demand in the National Assembly, Gilani questioned the ‘feasibility’ of a Musharraf trial.

“We should do what is doable,” Gilani said in what was an apparent turnaround from his earlier statement where he said the former Army chief would be tried for violating the Constitution if Parliament unanimously passes a resolution for it.

“We should not take any action that can’t be reversed. Our (PPP) chairman has already said that democracy is the best revenge. And we have taken our revenge through democracy. We have come to parliament. Now we should try to strengthen democracy. We should not play to galleries,” Gilani said.

Earlier, Khan told the National Assembly that a draft of resolution regarding Musharraf’s trial has already been prepared and he would move it in the house if the Prime Minister agreed to charge Musharraf under Article 6 of the Consitution.

Khan had raised the issue in the house earlier this month, but it subsequently died down following former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif statement that a parliamentary resolution was not needed and that government should invoke Article 6 on its own after the Supreme Court declared the November 3 emergency and other related decrees as ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘extra judicial’.

During Khan’s speech, PML-N members chanted slogans in protest against MQM’s protest shouts against his criticism of the Karachi-based party’s association first with Pakistan’s third military dictator late General Zia-ul-Haq and then with General Musharraf, the Dawn reports.

“Whoever is friend of Musharraf is traitor,” PML-N leaders shouted.

MQM deputy parliamentary leader Haider Abbas Rizvi criticised both the PPP and the PML-N, saying his party has been used by both whenever they needed its support, and was ignored afterwards and even subjected to military operations. (ANI)

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